Nectar secretion dynamics and honey production potentials of some major honey plants in Saudi Arabia

AbstractThe aim of the current study was to determine the floral phenology, nectar secretion dynamics, and honey production potentials of two naturally growing lavender species (L. dentata and L. pubescens), in southwestern Saudi Arabia. In both species, flowering is continuous. This means that, when open flowers on a spike are shaded, new flowers emerge. Such a flowering pattern might be advantageous to the plant to minimise competition for pollinators and promote efficient resource allocation. The flowering periods of the two species overlap. Both species secreted increasing amounts of nectar from early morning to late afternoon. The mean maximum volumes of accumulated nectar from bagged flowers occurred at 15:00 for L. pubescens (0.50 ± 0.24 μL/flower) and at 18:00 for L. dentata (0.68 ± 0.19 μL/flower). The volume of the nectar that became available between two successive measurements (three-h intervals) varied from 0.04 μL/flower to 0.28 μL/flower for L. pubescens and from 0.04 μL/flower to 0.35 μL/ flower for L. dentata, This variation reflects the differences in the dynamics of nectar secretion by these species, and indicates the size of the nectar that may be available for flower visitors at given time intervals. The distribution of nectar secretions appears to be an adaptation of the species to reward pollinators for longer duration. Based on the mean amount of nectar sugar secreted by the plants, the honey production potentials of the species are estimated to be 4973.34 mg and 3463.41 mg honey/plant for L. dentata and L. pubescens, respectively.

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Nectar secretion of Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels, Myrtaceae: Potential for honey production

Plants and Environment ◽

10.22271/2582-3744.2021.jun.30 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 30-36

Author(s):

Tura Bareke ◽

◽

Tesfaye Abera ◽

Admassu Addi ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Production Capacity ◽

Effect Of Temperature ◽

Nectar Secretion ◽

Financial Return ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Nectar Volume ◽

Honey Production ◽

A Value ◽

Mesh Bags ◽

Honey Yield

The honey production capacity of bee flora is used to estimate the optimum colony carrying capacity of given area that helps to harvest the best honey yield. The research was conducted to quantify the nectar secretion pattern, the effect of temperature and humidity on dynamics of nectar secretion, and honey production capacity of Callistemon citrinus. One day before nectar collection, five inflorescences were enclosed with mesh bags on different branches of the tree. From these, twenty flowers were randomly selected per tree for the measurement of nectar volume. Additionally, nectar volume and concentration, temperature, and air humidity were measured with an interval of one hour. One way ANOVA and linear regression were used for data analysis. The average amount of nectar and its concentration were different significantly within the time of the day. Nectar amount was correlated positively with humidity while concentration was negatively correlated with temperature. The average nectar volume (µl) per flower in 24 hours, sugar amount per tree (kg), honey yield per individual tree (kg) and honey production capacity of Callistemon citrinus per hectare were 10.9+0.4, 0.65, 0.79, and 1264 kg (46-3808 kg), respectively. The real expected honey yield was 632 kg ha-1. Total financial return was estimated to be $4424 based on a value of $7 kg-1 of Callistemon citrinus honey. Therefore, the multiplication and plantation of this plant are suggested for honey production.

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Nectar Secretion Dynamics and Honey Production Potential of Croton macrostachyus L., Euphorbiaceae

Bee World ◽

10.1080/0005772x.2020.1763086 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 97 (4) ◽

pp. 123-127

Author(s):

Tura Bareke ◽

Tolera Kumsa ◽

Kasim Roba ◽

Admassu Addi

Keyword(s):

Nectar Secretion ◽

Production Potential ◽

Honey Production ◽

Croton Macrostachyus

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Nectar of Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd (Rhamnaceae): Dynamics of Secretion and Potential for Honey Production

Journal of Apicultural Science ◽

10.2478/v10289-012-0023-9 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 56 (2) ◽

pp. 49-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Adgaba Nuru ◽

Awad M. Awad ◽

Ahmad A. Al-Ghamdi ◽

Abdulaziz S. Alqarni ◽

Sarah E. Radloff

Keyword(s):

High Potential ◽

Nectar Secretion ◽

Flowering Stage ◽

Average Mass ◽

Honey Production ◽

Potential Value ◽

Repeated Sampling ◽

Nectar Sugar

Abstract The nectar secretion of Ziziphus flowers was studied by removing and measuring the nectar every four hours, for two consecutive days, from 88 flowers of four trees (‘repeated sampling’). In another 120 flowers from the same trees, the accumulated sugar was measured at the end of the flowering stage. The mass of the nectar sugar was determined following the washing technique. The total amount of sugar per tree was calculated by multiplying the number of flowers per tree by the average mass of nectar sugar secreted per flower. The average mass of sugar produced per flower in repeated sampling was 0.79±0.54 mg/flower (range 0.09 - 2.48 mg). The average mass of sugar per flower for each of the four investigated trees was 1.43±0.53 mg, 0.72±0.27 mg, 0.94±0.39 mg and 0.37±0.26 mg, respectively. The differences among trees was statistically significant. For accumulated nectar, the overall average mass of sugar per flower was 0.55±0.23 mg (range 0.06 - 1.29 mg) and the average values for flowers on the investigated trees of Z. spina-christi were 0.69±0.26 mg, 0.41±0.16 mg, 0.51±0.16 mg and 0.53±0.21 mg; these variations were statistically significant. The average mass of nectar sugar calculated for the flowers with accumulated nectar sampling was significantly lower than the average mass of sugar recorded for repeated nectar sugar samplings (0.79±0.54 mg). According to this study, one Ziziphus tree is estimated to produce 3.6 kg of honey (range 2.2 - 5.2 kg), equivalent to about 900 kg of honey/ha (range 550 - 1300 kg). These figures indicate the high potential value of the plant for honey production. Nectar secretion was positively correlated with temperature, indicating the adaptation of the tree to hot climates.

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Effect of weather factors and nitrogen application on nectar secretion and honey production potential in sunflower

Journal of Agrometeorology ◽

10.54386/jam.v22i4.453 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 457-468

Author(s):

NAVDEEP KAUR ◽

PARDEEP K. CHHUNEJA ◽

JASPAL SINGH ◽

AMIT CHOUDHARY ◽

S.K. DHILLON

Keyword(s):

Relative Humidity ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Soluble Solids ◽

Nitrogen Application ◽

Nectar Secretion ◽

Production Potential ◽

Weather Factors ◽

Honey Production ◽

Weather Parameters ◽

Nectar Availability

Sunflower is a highly important bee floral crop. The nectar secretion governs this parameter and is greatly influenced by cultivar, environmental factors and fertilizer application. Studies were conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana on sunflower hybrids (PSH 996 and PSH 1962) sown on different dates (January 31, February 10, February 20 and March 2) with three levels of nitrogen (45, 60 and 75 kg ha-1). Delay in sowing from January 31 to March 2 caused significant reduction in nectar secretion (12.66%) and increase in its concentration (5.38%). The daily mean temperature had significant positive (R2 = 0.52 and 0.54) while mean relative humidity had negative (R2 = 0.55 and 0.37) correlation with nectar total soluble solids (TSS).Nectar secretion and its TSS increased significantly only at nitrogen dose of 60 kg ha-1 as compared to 45 kg ha-1.Weather parameters have more pronounced effects on TSSat 45 kg ha-1.Delay in sowing by one month resulted in reduction in honey production potential by 1.5- 1.8 kg ha-1. In addition to this, the reduced nectar availability due to delay in sowing may negatively effect in attracting and sustaining pollinators’ populations and crop yield.

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