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Influence of Phenotype, Season, and Time-of-day on Nectar Production in Cotton¹

Twenty-five cultivars and breeding stocks ofGossypium hirsutum L. and two cultivars of G. barbadense L. were studied for rates of flowering and diurnal and seasonal patterns Of floral nectar production. Nectar secretion began ca. 0800 hours and production increased linearly until the flowers closed at ca. 1700 hours. In mid-season, G. hirsutum produced 25 µ1 nectar/flower for at least 5 weeks. Neither nectar volume nor sugar concentration differed significantly among the 25 entries of G. hirsutum. When samples were collected between 1300 and 1700 hours, sugar concentrations were mostly ca. 20%. Flowers of G. barbadense produced about three times this amount of nectar with only slightly lower sugar concentrations. Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) visits to both species of cotton were negligible, even though we provided nearly 10 colonies/ha during the flowering season.

Key Words: Gossypium hirsutum L. • Gossypium barbadense L. • Apis mellifera L. • Floral nectar • Nectar volume • Nectar sugar • Pollination • Pollen

² Research entomologist and agricultural research technician, respectively, USDA-SEA-AR, Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 E. Allen Road, Tucson, AZ 85719.

³ Research geneticist, USDA-SEA-AR, Western Cotton Research Laboratory, 4135 E. Broadway, Phoenix, AZ 85040.

Received for publication August 2, 1980.