Nectar Production of Cranberries: Genotypic Differences and Insensitivity to Soil Fertility

Cranberry flowers (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) require bee visitation for pollination. Bees visit cranberry flowers for nectar and sometimes pollen, but honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in particular often work alternative co-flowering species for nectar, presumably because cranberry offers inferior nectar rewards. In a common garden setting, replicated plots of the cultivar Stevens were found to secrete significantly more nectar sugar (25% to 35% more) per flower than either `Ben Lear' or `Early Black', two other common commercial cultivars. The nectar secretion rate of `Stevens' was unaffected by a 4-fold range of fertilizer application rates over the preceding 2 years. These results are compared to studies of other crops involving varietal differences and programs of selective breeding for nectar secretion.

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Evaluation of the apicultural value of sunflower hybrids

Acta Agronomica Hungarica ◽

10.1556/aagr.56.2008.1.10 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 91-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E. Zajácz ◽

T. Szalai ◽

G. Mészáros

Keyword(s):

Honey Bees ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Honey Production ◽

Partial Data ◽

High Sugar Content ◽

Nectar Sugar ◽

Production Value ◽

The Individual ◽

Selection Of

Sunflower is one of the most important bee-pasture crops and the leading oil crop plant in Hungary. There are very few studies concerning the nectar production of the plant, most of which consist only of partial data that show the apicultural value of sunflower under intensive cultivation conditions.The nectar production and nectar sugar concentration of six sunflower hybrids, Arena, Alexandra, Cledor, Coriste, Hysun 321 PR and Louidor, were examined in Mezőhegyes (south-east Hungary) from 2002 to 2004. The aim was to determine the nectar production and overall apicultural value of the hybrids. In the experiment the agroecological conditions were also examined and recorded. These agroecological conditions showed a distinctive effect on the consistency of the apicultural values of the hybrids.It can be determined from the results that the nectar production and its sugar content can be modified measurably by external factors. The nectar quantity was measurably increased by abundant precipitation during flowering, while an increase in the nectar sugar content was caused by excessively low air temperature. During these three years the average nectar production of the hybrids was 0.147 mg/floret, with a sugar content of 48.8%. Significant differences were found between the hybrids in nectar production and in the nectar sugar concentration.Averaged over three years Coriste displayed the best apicultural value. Its nectar production was stable and high (0.167 mg/floret). Its high sugar content (49.1%) also proved to be attractive to honey bees (sugar value 0.082). The lowest apicultural value was displayed by the hybrid Alexandra, with a sugar value of 0.059. This suggests that the honey production value of the individual hybrids should be taken into consideration during the selection of bee pastures.

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Nectar Production and Spectrum of Insect Visitors in Six Varieties of Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in SE Poland

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.7410 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 74 ◽

Author(s):

Małgorzata Bożek

Keyword(s):

Honey Bees ◽

Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Sugar Yield ◽

Sugar Concentration ◽

Highbush Blueberry ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Se Poland ◽

Nectar Sugar ◽

Insect Visitors

Abstract The attractiveness of plants to pollinators depends strongly on flower rewards, especially nectar and pollen. Nectar mass, sugar concentration, and sugar mass are known to influence the spectrum and abundance of insect visitors. Respective data on nectar secretion in highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum ) under the climatic conditions of Poland are scarce. This study was conducted in 2002–2005 to assess flower abundance, nectar production, and insect visitors in six varieties of V. corymbosum in Niemce, SE Poland. Flower abundance ranged from 1.63 ± 0.64 (‘Darrow’) to 4.07 ± 0.95 in thousands of flowers per shrub (‘Northland’). Nectar mass, sugar concentration, and nectar sugar mass increased with flower age, peaking between the sixth and ninth day. Significant differences in nectar characteristics occurred between years and between varieties. ‘Bluecrop’ and ‘Darrow’ produced the largest nectar mass (19.08 ± 7.09 and 16.60 ± 8.31 mg nectar per flower, respectively) and nectar sugar mass per flower (6.39 ± 1.52 and 5.76 ± 1.51 mg sugar per flower, respectively). The estimated sugar yield in the studied V. corymbosum varieties ranged from 9.4 ± 3.3 to 20.7 ± 3.8 g sugar per shrub (‘Croatan’ and ‘Bluecrop,’ respectively). Regarding insect visitors, only honey bees and bumble bees were observed. Honey bees comprised 81%–98% of the total number of observed insect visitors. Highbush blueberry, due to abundant blooming and high per-flower sugar yield, is thus a good source of nectar sugars for honey bees.

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Flowering, nectar production and insects visits in two cultivars of Cucurbita maxima Duch. flowers

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2008.013 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 99-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marta Dmitruk

Keyword(s):

Sugar Content ◽

Cucurbita Maxima ◽

Nectar Secretion ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Male And Female ◽

Insect Visitation ◽

Nectar Sugar ◽

Winter Squash ◽

Experimental Plots ◽

Female Flowers

The study was conducted on experimental plots in the conditions of Lublin. In the years 1998-2000 flowering, nectar secretion and insect visitation of male and female flowers of two winter squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) cultivars: 'Ambar' and 'Amazonka', were studied. The plants flowered from July to October. The flower life span was within the range of 7-10 hours. Female flowers of cv. Ambar were marked by the most abundant nectar secretion (129 mg). The nectar sugar content can be estimated as average (25%-35%). Winter squash nectar contained 84% of sucrose as well as 8-9% of fructose and 7%-8% of glucose. Flowers of the studied taxa were frequently foraged by the honey bee (66%-98% of total insects) and bumblebees (1%-30%).

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Nectar secretion pattern and removal effects in three species of Solanaceae

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b93-167 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 71 (10) ◽

pp. 1394-1398 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Leonardo Galetto ◽

Luis Bernardello

Keyword(s):

Sugar Production ◽

Nectar Secretion ◽

Nicotiana Glauca ◽

Time Intervals ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Nectar Volume ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Flower Age ◽

Nicotiana Longiflora ◽

Nectar Sugar

Nectar secretion pattern and effects of nectar removal were compared in three Argentinean Solanaceae: Nicotiana glauca, which is hummingbird pollinated, and Nicotiana longiflora and Petunia axillaris, which are sphinx moth pollinated. Nectar volume, concentration, and sugar production were measured at different time intervals according to the species' flower life span. Nectar volume and total sugar production increased as a function of flower age in both species of Nicotiana analyzed; however, these parameters were quite stable in P. axillaris. This species produced less nectar and nectar sugar than the other two. When all sets with nectar removal were compared with the controls, significant differences were found in nectar volume and quantity of nectar sugar in N. longiflora, and in sugar concentration in P. axillaris. In the latter, the observed difference did not affect the total amount of sugar secreted. Nicotiana glauca did not show any significant difference in the parameters analyzed. Total nectar production was inhibited by periodic removal in N. longiflora, while in N. glauca and P. axillaris it was unaffected. Key words: nectar secretion pattern, nectar removal, Nicotiana, Petunia, Solanaceae.

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Comparative study of wood betony (Stachys officinalis L) melliferousness in different habitat conditions

Veterinarski glasnik ◽

10.2298/vetgl0504475m ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 59 (3-4) ◽

pp. 475-484

Author(s):

Marina Macukanovic-Jocic

Keyword(s):

Sugar Concentration ◽

Habitat Conditions ◽

Air Humidity ◽

Nectar Secretion ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Relative Air Humidity ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Nectar Sugar ◽

Lower Temperature ◽

Forest Conditions

Nectar production in wood betony (Stachys officinalis L), grown under differ-microclimatic habitat conditions (forest and experimental field), was analyzed. Study of tar production included determining of the total daily nectar amount (in 24 hours) per flower, the diurnal dynamics of nectar secretion (nectar amount secreted per flower at two hour intervals during the day), and nectar sugar concentration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of microclimatic parameters humidity, air temperature and evaporation) on the secretion process and nectar sugar concentration. Comparative analyses of nectar secretion in Stachys officinalis, grown in two environmentally different habitats, confirmed that this process varied as a function of micro-climatic habitat conditions, and did not reveal a close relationship between these conditions and sugar concentration in nectar. A diurnal model of nectar secretion with two secretion peaks was found. A higher amount of nectar per flower, with an increasing tendency during the first half of the day, and a decreasing tendency during the afternoon was measured in forest conditions (lower temperature, higher relative air humidity and lower evaporation).

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Evaluation of the Regional-Scale Optimal K Rate Based on Sustainable Apple Yield and High-Efficiency K Use in Loess Plateau and Bohai Bay of China: A Meta-Analysis

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11071368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1368

Author(s):

Wenzheng Tang ◽

Wene Wang ◽

Dianyu Chen ◽

Ningbo Cui ◽

Haosheng Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Loess Plateau ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Application Rate ◽

Bohai Bay ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Application Rates ◽

Relationship Model

In order to meet the growing food demand of the global population and maintain sustainable soil fertility, there is an urgent need to optimize fertilizer application amount in agricultural production practices. Most of the existing studies on the optimal K rates for apple orchards were based on case studies and lack information on optimizing K-fertilizer management on a regional scale. Here, we used the method of combining meta-analysis with the K application rate-yield relationship model to quantify and summarize the optimal K rates of the Loess Plateau and Bohai Bay regions in China. We built a dataset based on 159 observations obtained from 18 peer-reviewed literature studies distributed in 15 different research sites and evaluated the regional-scale optimal K rates for apple production. The results showed that the linear plus platform model was more suitable for estimating the regional-scale optimal K rates, which were 208.33 and 176.61 kg K ha−1 for the Loess Plateau and Bohai Bay regions of China, respectively. Compared with high K application rates, the optimal K rates increased K use efficiency by 45.88–68.57%, with almost no yield losses. The optimal K rates also enhanced the yield by 6.30% compared with the low K application rates.

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Flower mites decrease nectar availability in the rain-forest bromeliad Neoregelia johannis

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467410000179 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 373-379 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tadeu J. Guerra ◽

Gustavo Q. Romero ◽

Woodruff W. Benson

Keyword(s):

Rain Forest ◽

Sugar Content ◽

Sugar Concentration ◽

Production Rates ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Nectar Volume ◽

Bombus Morio ◽

Nectar Rewards ◽

Flower Mites ◽

Nectar Availability

Abstract:Nectarivorous flower mites can reduce the volume of nectar available to pollinators. The effects of the flower mite Proctolaelaps sp. on nectar availability in flowers of a melittophilous bromeliad Neoregelia johannis (Bromeliaceae) was evaluated in a coastal rain forest in south-eastern Brazil. In a randomized block experiment utilizing 18 flower pairs, one per bromeliad ramet, pollinators (Bombus morio) and mites were excluded, and then nectar volume, sugar concentration and sugar mass were quantified over the anthesis period. Mites significantly reduced nectar volume early in the morning (6h00–8h00), but not later (10h00–12h00). Mites decreased total volume of nectar available up to 22%. Sugar concentration in nectar was higher earlier in the morning, and decreased between 10h00–12h00. The pronounced consumption of nectar by mites during the period of higher sugar concentration reduced the total amount of sugar available to pollinators by 31%. This is the first study showing that flower mites decrease nectar rewards in a melittophilous plant. Because nectar volume by itself incompletely describes nectar production rates and the effects of nectar removal by flower mites on the availability of sugar, our study highlights the inclusion of sugar content in future studies assessing the effects of thieves on nectar production rates.

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Differential nectar production between male and female flowers in a wild cucurbit: Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana (Cucurbitaceae)

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b02-110 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 80 (11) ◽

pp. 1203-1208 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Lorena Ashworth ◽

Leonardo Galetto

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Output ◽

Male Flower ◽

Female Flower ◽

Cucurbita Maxima ◽

Nectar Production ◽

Male And Female ◽

Nectar Sugar Composition ◽

Nectar Sugar ◽

Male Flowers ◽

Female Flowers

In dioecious and monoecious plants that depend on animal vectors for reproduction, pollinators have to be attracted to male and female flowers for pollination to be effective. In the monoecious Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, male flowers are produced in greater quantity, are spatially more exposed to pollinators and offer pollen in addition to nectar as floral rewards. Nectar traits were compared between male and female flowers to determine any differences in the characteristics of the main reward offered to pollinators. Nectar chemical composition and sugar proportions were similar between flower types. Total nectar sugar production per female flower was threefold higher than per male flower, and nectar removal did not have any effect on total nectar production in both flower morphs. Pollinators reduced nectar standing crops to similar and very scarce amounts in both flower types. Results indicate indirectly that pollinators are consuming more nectar from female flowers, suggesting that the higher nectar production in female flowers may be a reward-based strategy to achieve the high female reproductive output observed in this species.Key words: Cucurbitaceae, Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, nectar production, nectar sugar composition, removal effects, standing crop.

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The effect of osmocote fertilizers on growth and nutrient status of Carex buchananii Berggr.

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2015.010 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 68 (1) ◽

pp. 75-80

Author(s):

Monika Henschke ◽

Ewelina Wojciechowska ◽

Agnieszka Błaszyk ◽

Katarzyna Araszkiewicz

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Status ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Growing Up ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Application Rates

An experiment on the effect of Osmocote fertilizers on growth and nutrient status of Carex buchananii was conducted in the years 2008–2009. Carex buchananii is a dense-tufted sedge growing up to 60 cm in height, with very narrow, stiff, red, copper and olive colored leaves throughout the season. Plants were grown in a greenhouse in pots with peat substrate for 18 weeks. The differentiating factors included the type of fertilizer, i.e. Exact Standard 16:11:11 and Osmocote Exact High Start 11:11:19, and fertilizer application rates of 2 and 4 g dm−3, the phase of growth, i.e. 1 to 9 weeks and 9 to 18 weeks of culture. The greatest increment in the tuft circumference of C. buchananii was recorded in the first 9 weeks of culture, while that of the fresh weight of aboveground parts – in the period from 9 to 18 weeks. The application of Osmocote Exact High Start at 4 g dm−3 in the culture of C. buchananii resulted in the production of the desired quality of the plants with a greater tuft circumference and shorter leaves. It was shown that best quality plants contained in their aboveground parts the following amounts of macronutrients and sodium (g kg−1): N – 18.9, P – 3.5, K – 37.2, Ca – 5.8, Mg – 3.0, and Na – 0.3.

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Non-wood plants as raw material for pulp and paper

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.23986/afsci.5707 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 10 (Supplement) ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

K. SAIJONKARI-PAHKALA

Keyword(s):

Tall Fescue ◽

Mineral Content ◽

Clay Soil ◽

Organic Soil ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Raw Material ◽

Reed Canary Grass ◽

Application Rates ◽

Canary Grass

This study was begun in 1990 when there was a marked shortage of short fibre raw material for the pulp industry. During the last ten years the situation has changed little, and the shortage is still apparent. It was estimated that 0.5 to 1 million hectares of arable land would be set aside from cultivation in Finland during this period. An alternative to using hardwoods in printing papers is non-wood fibres from herbaceous field crops. The study aimed at determining the feasibility of using non-wood plants as raw material for the pulp and paper industry, and developing crop management methods for the selected species. The properties considered important for a fibre crop were high yielding ability, high pulping quality and good adaptation to the prevailing climatic conditions and possibilities for low cost production. A strategy and a process to identify, select and introduce a crop for domestic short fibre production is described in this thesis. The experimental part of the study consisted of screening plant species by analysing fibre and mineral content, evaluating crop management methods and varieties, resulting in description of an appropriate cropping system for large-scale fibre plant production. Of the 17 herbaceous plant species studied, monocotyledons were most suitable for pulping. They were productive and well adapted to Finnish climatic conditions. Of the monocots, reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were the most promising. These were chosen for further studies and were included in field experiments to determine the most suitable harvesting system and fertilizer application procedures for biomass production. Reed canary grass was favoured by delayed harvesting in spring when the moisture content of the crop stand was 10-15% of DM before production of new tillers. When sown in early spring, reed canary grass typically yielded 7-8 t ha-1 within three years on clay soil. The yield exceeded 10 t ha-1 on organic soil after the second harvest year. Spring harvesting was not suitable for tall fescue and resulted in only 37-54% of dry matter yields and in far fewer stems and panicles than harvested during the growing season. The economic optimum for fertilizer application rate for reed canary grass ranged from 50 to 100 kg N ha-1 when grown on clay soil and harvested in spring. On organic soil the fertilizer rates needed were lower. If tall fescue is used for raw material for paper, fertilizer application rates higher than 100 kg N ha-1 were not of any additional benefit. It was possible to decrease the mineral content of raw material by harvesting in spring, using moderate fertilizer application rates, removing leaf blades from the raw material and growing the crop on organic soil. The fibre content of the raw material increased the later the crop was harvested, being highest in spring. Removing leaf blades and using minimum fertilizer application rates in-creased the fibre content of biomass.;

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