| Title: |
Temporal Dynamics of Nectar and Pollen Production in Protandrous Flowers of Nigella damascena |
| Authors: |
Zuzanna Łabęcka; Bożena Denisow; Monika Strzałkowska-Abramek |
| Source: |
Plants ; Volume 15 ; Issue 6 ; Pages: 928 |
| Publisher Information: |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
MDPI Open Access Publishing |
| Subject Terms: |
protandry; nectar production; nectar sugars; pollen production; honey bees |
| Subject Geographic: |
agris |
| Description: |
This study examined nectar and pollen production as well as pollinator visitation in Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae), an annual ornamental and seed crop, over two flowering seasons. Flower anthesis lasted 6–7 days, with protandry: the male phase began on the first day, and pollen presentation continued until corolla senescence. Peak stigma receptivity occurred in 5-day-old flowers, resulting in a partial overlap of male and female functions between days 5 and 7. Nectar was secreted by petal-derived structures, with secretion beginning in 1-day-old flowers and steadily increasing, peaking on the day of maximum stigma receptivity. The nectar sugar composition differed between floral phases; it was sucrose-dominant in the male phase and sucrose-rich in the female phase. Significant year effects were observed for flowering abundance, nectar traits (volume, sugar production, concentration), and pollen output. Flowers were visited predominantly by honey bees, but bumblebees, solitary bees, and dipterans were also recorded. These results demonstrate that floral reward traits vary between years and contribute to differences in the temporal availability of nectar and pollen resources. |
| Document Type: |
text |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants; https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants15060928 |
| DOI: |
10.3390/plants15060928 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15060928 |
| Rights: |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.166E4F00 |
| Database: |
BASE |