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Influence of Cotton Genotypes on Floral Visits of Honey Bees 1
Author(s) -
Moffett Joseph O.,
Stith Lee S.,
Burkhardt Chris C.,
Shipman Charles W.
Publication year - 1975
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/cropsci1975.0011183x001500060013x
Subject(s) - biology , genotype , attractiveness , gossypium hirsutum , malvaceae , botany , gossypium , horticulture , pollen , gene , genetics , psychology , psychoanalysis
Cotton genotypes ( Gossypium spp.) were studied for their floral attractiveness to honey bees ( Apis mellifera L.) in Pima County, Ariz. The genotypes varied greatly in floral attractiveness, but differences tended to be consistent. Genotypes containing at least some cytoplasm from species other than G. hirsutum L. were generally more attractive than normal lines developed from G. hirsutum . The most attractive genotypes were three late blooming tetraploids developed from crosses involving G. arboreum L., G. thurberi Todaro, and G. hirsutum . A purple‐flowered hexaploid developed from an ‘Acala 44‐10‐1’ ✕ G. sturtianum Willis cross also ranked high in attractiveness. None of the genotypes of cytoplasms studied were sufficiently attractive to overcome the mid‐season drop in bee visits that occurs in southern Arizona. Some of the more attractive genotypes may be used in hybridization programs to increase the floral attractiveness of the parental A, B, and R‐lines that will be used to produce hybrid cotton seed.