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Olfactory Screening of Alfalfa Clones for Uniform Honey Bee Selection 1
Author(s) -
Loper G. M.,
Waller Gordon D.,
Berdel Richard L.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1974.0011183x001400010037x
Subject(s) - biology , bioassay , medicago sativa , clone (java method) , honey bee , botany , selection (genetic algorithm) , horticulture , ecology , genetics , gene , artificial intelligence , computer science
An olfactory bioassay procedure is described, and results from testing 28 alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) clones for honey bee ( Apis mellifera L.) olfactory compatibility are reported. Honey bee selection appeared to be based on quantity and quality of flower volatiles. When the honey bees were conditioned to one clone (“normal” alfalfa flower volatiles), bee selection indicated that alfalfa clones could be classified into three categories: compatible, neutral, and incompatible. The difference between compatible and neutral seemed to be based on lower quantities of volatiles produced by the neutral group; however, the one incompatible clone was discriminated against on the basis of olfactory quality. This bioassay procedure could be used as a tool for alfalfa breeders to select parent clones that are olfactorily compatible.