Nectar secretion of RN-type cytoplasmic male sterility three lines in soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.]

Significant progress has been achieved in the use of heterosis in soybean and several soybean hybrids have been released in China. However, broad use of hybrid soybean seed is limited due to low seed setting of female parents. Breeding cytoplasmic male sterile（CMS） lines with high out-crossing rate is necessary to solve the problem. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between out-crossing rate of CMS lines and their nectar secretion. The daily nectar secretion rhythm, meteorological effect on nectar secretion, and differences in nectar secretion among genotypes and years were investigated in 27 soybean CMS lines（A-lines） with their maintainers（B-lines） and restorers（R-lines）. The correlation between out-crossing rate of CMS lines and nectar production was also evaluated. Nectar secretion had diurnal variation. Secretion initiated at about 06：00 for most materials and reached a peak at 07：00–08：30 after flower opened, then the nectar secretion decreased gradually. A sub-peak appeared at about 13：00, while the nectar could not be detected at 17：00. Nectar secretion was greatly influenced by the weather conditions. The amount of nectar secretion increased gradually over time during periods of high temperature and no rainfall for several days. Rainy weather and low temperatures inhibited nectar secretion. There were obvious variations of nectar amount among different genotypes tested. Significant nectar variation within a genotype among years was also observed, and the highest nectar secretion was 3-fold higher than the lowest. The amount of nectar secretion from R-lines was significantly higher than that of A-and B-lines. There was no significant difference in nectar secretion between A-and B-lines. A-and B-lines with higher out-crossing rates secreted more nectar. The amount of nectar secretion of A-and B-lines were significantly positively correlated with the out-crossing rate of A-lines.

Comparisons of Nectar Quantity and Sugar Concentration of Pomegranate Blossom in a Day

[Objective] The aim was to research the rules of nectar quantity and sugar concentration of perfect and staminate flowers in a day. [Method] Based on nine Tianguang Yan pomegranate trees, nectar quantity and sugar concentration of per- fect and staminate flowers were measured and analyzed in morning and afternoon. [Result] Average nectar quantity and sugar concentration differed insignificantly in morning and afternoon of perfect flowers, which could also be applied to staminate flowers. However, average nectar quantity of perfect flower was 64.09 μI and of staminate flower was 44.07 μl. It is obvious that the two were of extremely signifi- cant differences （t=4.642, P〈0.01）, and the former was significantly higher by 45,43%. On the other hand, average sugar concentration of perfect flower was 48.44% and of staminate flower was 37.16%. The two were of extremely significant differences and the former is higher by 30.36%, compared with the latter. These suggested that nectar quantity and sugar concentration would maintain unchanged in different periods for a day, if nectars are not consumed by pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. In the same period, nectar quantity and sugar concentration of per- fect flowers were higher than those of staminate flowers. [Conclusion] The research provides references for benefits increase of bee farmers and fruit farmers, as well as exploration of bee pollination.