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Nectar Characteristics Associated With Sources of Alfalfa Germplasm 1
Author(s) -
Barnes D. K.,
Furgala Basil
Publication year - 1978
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/cropsci1978.0011183x001800060048x
Subject(s) - nectar , biology , medicago sativa , cultivar , germplasm , sucrose , agronomy , sugar , fructose , botany , horticulture , pollen , food science
Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) is a major source of nectar for honey production in the USA. No cultivars have been developed especially for nectar productivity. The objective of the research reported here was to survey the nectar characteristics of alfalfa plants from various parental germplasms. Greenhouse‐grown plants from 82 cultivars were assayed for nectar volume per 100 florets, percent nectar solids (sugars), and ratios of sucrose, fructose, and sucrose. Highly significant differences occurred among alfalfa sources for all traits measured. An index developed with visual scores for flower size and nectar quantity was correlated (r = 0.80) with extracted nectar volume. It should be possible to breed alfalfa cultivars with wide ranges in nectar characteristics.