Abstract
Fertiliser rates applied to blueberry crops may influence the production and quality of floral nectar, the major attractant for pollinators of blueberry. To test this, three complete fertiliser rates in solution (0.66, 0.84, 1.11 dSm −1 ) were irrigated onto potted blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum ‘11‐11’), growing in a glasshouse, for 12 months up to peak flowering, and floral nectar was evaluated. The treatments had no effect on nectar mass or mass of sugars per flower, nectar sugar concentrations, or sucrose:hexose ratios. Plant sink‐source was potentially affected. In fertiliser‐limited plants, leaf chlorophyll index was reduced, non‐structural carbohydrates were accumulated in young stems and fewer flowers were potentially a weaker sink for these assimilates. In contrast, their trunk growth was greater than for other treatments, potentially a stronger sink under reduced flowering. Differences in nectar characteristics between collection days, occurred under similar temperature, humidity and vapour pressure deficit ranges. Potassium (K) (0.078–0.39 mg/L) and phosphorus (P) (<0.01 mg/L) detected in nectar were below those considered repellent to honeybees, but data was limited. Focussing on drivers of nectar variability will assist in evaluating nectar value for pollinators under cultivated conditions. Optimising flower abundance and plant breeding to promote larger flowers in blueberry may improve the floral reward.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Fertiliser rate did not affect nectar mass, sugar mass per flower, nectar sugar concentration or sucrose:hexose ratio.
- Taxon
- Blueberryt0
- Treatment
- treatmentse0
- Outcome
- nectar mass or mass of sugars per flower, nectar sugar concentrations, or sucrose:hexose ratiose0
- Direction
- no effecte0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“The treatments had no effect on nectar mass or mass of sugars per flower, nectar sugar concentrations, or sucrose:hexose ratios.”
t0“Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertiliser-limited blueberry had reduced leaf chlorophyll index.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“In fertiliser‐limited plants, leaf chlorophyll index was reduced”
t0“Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertiliser-limited blueberry accumulated non-structural carbohydrates in young stems.
- Taxon
- Blueberryt0
- Organ / stage
- young stemse0
- Treatment
- fertiliser‐limitede1
- Outcome
- non‐structural carbohydratese0
- Direction
- accumulatede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“non‐structural carbohydrates were accumulated in young stems”
e1“In fertiliser‐limited plants”
t0“Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertiliser-limited blueberry produced fewer flowers.
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“fewer flowers were potentially a weaker sink for these assimilates”
e1“In fertiliser‐limited plants”
t0“Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertiliser-limited blueberry had greater trunk growth than other treatments.
Verbatim
e0“their trunk growth was greater than for other treatments”
e1“In fertiliser‐limited plants”
t0“Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Nectar characteristics varied between collection days despite similar weather ranges.
Verbatim
e0“Differences in nectar characteristics between collection days, occurred under similar temperature, humidity and vapour pressure deficit ranges.”
t0“Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Nectar potassium was detected at 0.078–0.39 mg/L, below levels considered repellent to honeybees.
Verbatim
e0“Potassium (K) (0.078–0.39 mg/L) and phosphorus (P) (<0.01 mg/L) detected in nectar were below those considered repellent to honeybees, but data was limited.”
t0“Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
Nectar phosphorus was detected below 0.01 mg/L, below levels considered repellent to honeybees.
Verbatim
e0“Potassium (K) (0.078–0.39 mg/L) and phosphorus (P) (<0.01 mg/L) detected in nectar were below those considered repellent to honeybees, but data was limited.”
t0“Blueberry”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend optimizing flower abundance in blueberry to improve floral reward.
Verbatim
e0“Optimising flower abundance and plant breeding to promote larger flowers in blueberry may improve the floral reward.”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest breeding blueberry for larger flowers may improve floral reward.
Verbatim
e0“plant breeding to promote larger flowers in blueberry may improve the floral reward”
The same questions in other papers
fertilization · physiology: pigments · VacciniumPositive and negative results
2 in the opposite direction
- positive
- positive
fertilization · phenology · VacciniumResults agree
2 papers in the same direction as this paper
- no effect
- no effect
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.