Inter-Individual Nectar Chemistry Changes of Field Scabious, Knautia arvensis.

ABSTRACT: Nectar is crucial to maintain plant-pollinator mutualism. Nectar quality (nutritional composition) can vary strongly between individuals of the same plant species. The factors driving such inter-individual variation have however not been investigated closer. We investigated nectar quality of field scabious, Knautia arvensis in different grassland plant communities varying in species composition and richness to assess whether nectar quality can be affected by the surrounding plant community. We analyzed (with high performance liquid chromatography) the content of carbohydrates, overall amino acids, and essential amino acids. Amino acid and carbohydrate concentrations and proportions varied among plant individuals and with the surrounding plant community but were not related to the surroundi

SUBMITTER: Venjakob C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7073839 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature