TY - JOUR
T1 - Amygdalin in almond nectar and pollen - Facts and possible roles
AU - London-Shafir, Idit
AU - Shafir, Sharoni
AU - Eisikowitch, D.
PY - 2003/6
Y1 - 2003/6
N2 - Nectar and pollen within flowers are usually the primary attractants to floral visitors. Chemical analysis of almond nectar and pollen in this study revealed that they contain the secondary compound amygdalin. Floral display often reflects pollinator characters, and almond flowers are accordingly designated as "bee flowers". A previous study in Israel showed that when almonds bloom early in the season they attract honeybees, but later in the season the bees shift toward other species that start blooming. In this study, we offered honeybees sugar solutions containing various concentrations of amygdalin. These preference experiments revealed that in mid-summer bees were not selective, whereas early in the summer they were more discriminating, and consumed faster the sugar solutions with the lower amygdalin concentrations. Possible roles of amygdalin in almond nectar and pollen are discussed.
AB - Nectar and pollen within flowers are usually the primary attractants to floral visitors. Chemical analysis of almond nectar and pollen in this study revealed that they contain the secondary compound amygdalin. Floral display often reflects pollinator characters, and almond flowers are accordingly designated as "bee flowers". A previous study in Israel showed that when almonds bloom early in the season they attract honeybees, but later in the season the bees shift toward other species that start blooming. In this study, we offered honeybees sugar solutions containing various concentrations of amygdalin. These preference experiments revealed that in mid-summer bees were not selective, whereas early in the summer they were more discriminating, and consumed faster the sugar solutions with the lower amygdalin concentrations. Possible roles of amygdalin in almond nectar and pollen are discussed.
KW - Almond
KW - Amygdalin
KW - Amygdalus communis L.
KW - Honeybees
KW - Nectar
KW - Pollen
KW - Pollination
KW - Secondary compounds
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038756695&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00606-003-0272-y
DO - 10.1007/s00606-003-0272-y
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AN - SCOPUS:0038756695
SN - 0378-2697
VL - 238
SP - 87
EP - 95
JO - Plant Systematics and Evolution
JF - Plant Systematics and Evolution
IS - 1-4
ER -