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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #370001
Research Project: Genetic Enhancement of Sunflower Yield and Tolerance to Biotic Stress

Location: Sunflower and Plant Biology Research

Title: Updates on sunflower pollinator research: understanding interactions of plant phenotype, environment, and pollinator identity

Author
item FERGUSON, BETH - Orise Fellow
item Hulke, Brent
item Prasifka, Jarrad

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2019
Publication Date: 1/3/2020
Citation: Ferguson, B., Hulke, B.S., Prasifka, J.R. 2020. Updates on sunflower pollinator research: understanding interactions of plant phenotype, environment, and pollinator identity [abstract]. National Sunflower Association Research Forum. 90:19.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Prior research shows that cultivated sunflowers, while capable of some self-pollination, still rely on bees for consistent high yields. It is also clear that plant phenotype related to floral rewards (= access to nectar, amounts of nectar or pollen available) influences the number of bees that visit a given inbred or hybrid. Updates are provided on several projects related to improving sunflower pollination, including (1) data on variation and heritability of nectar quantity, (2) response of honey bees to lines that vary in floret size, and (3) trials with native, wild bees that evaluate effects of floret size, nectar quantity, and planting date. While some aspects of how sunflowers, bees and the surrounding environment interact are not yet understood, cost-effective tools are becoming available to improve crop pollination