ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 3124
Poster No. = 1747


RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STOMATAL NUMBER ON NECTARY SURFACES AND TOTAL NECTAR SUGAR PRODUCTION PER FLOWER IN BRASSICA RAPA L. AND VICIA FABA L


A.R. Davis, J.C. Paradis and J.D. Pylatuik, Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada


Stoma-like structures occur on floral nectaries of angiosperms representing at least 80 families. Although their pores can serve for nectar escape, a finely-tuned control mechanism that regulates nectar flow through them has yet to be demonstrated in species studied to date. Here we investigated whether stomatal number was related to nectar-sugar production per flower. Such a trait has potential relevance to crop-breeding programmes, as seed yields in both Brassica rapa and Vicia faba are increased by bee visitation. Results indicated that the relationship was weak, in fact, plants possessing relatively large numbers of stomata per floral nectary yielded the smallest quantities of nectar sugar per flower.


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