An analysis of the energetic reward offered by field bean (Vicia faba) flowers: Nectar, pollen, and operative force.

ABSTRACT: Global consumption of crops with a yield that is dependent on animal pollinators is growing, with greater areas planted each year. However, the floral traits that influence pollinator visitation are not usually the focus of breeding programmes, and therefore, it is likely that yield improvements may be made by optimizing floral traits to enhance pollinator visitation rates. We investigated the variation present in the floral reward of the bee-pollinated crop Vicia faba (field bean). We examined the genetic potential for breeding flowers with a greater reward into current commercial varieties and used bee behavioral experiments to gain insight into the optimal nectar concentration to maximize bee preference. There was a large range of variation in the amount of pollen and nectar rewa

SUBMITTER: Bailes EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5869266 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature