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Nectar secretion dynamics and honey production potentials of some major honey plants in Saudi Arabia
Joint Authors
al-Ghamidi, Ahmad
Adgaba, Nuru
Getachew, Awraris
Tadesse, Yilma
Awad, Awad M.
Ansari, Muhammad Javid
Uways, Ayman A.
al-Qurani, Abd al-Aziz Bin Sad
Muhammad, Sayf al-Din A.
Source
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
Issue
Vol. 24, Issue 1 (31 Jan. 2017), pp.180-191, 12 p.
Publisher
Publication Date
2017-01-31
Country of Publication
Saudi Arabia
No. of Pages
12
Main Subjects
Topics
Abstract EN
The contribution of a bee plant species to honey production depends on the plant’s nectar secretion quality and quantity, which is mainly governed by biotic and abiotic factors.
The aim of the current study, was to investigate the nectar secretion dynamics and honey production potential of 14 major bee plant species of the target area.
We examined the quantity and dynamics of nectar sugar per flower five times a day using a nectar sugar washing technique and direct measuring of nectar with calibrated capillary tubes.
The average nectar sugar amount of the species varied from 0.41 mg/flower to 7.7 mg/flower (P< 0.0001).
The honey sugar per flower was used to extrapolate the honey production potential per plant and per hectare of land.
Accordingly the honey production potential of the species observed to vary from 14 kg/hectare in Otostegia fruticosa to 829 kg/hectare in Ziziphus spina-christi.
The nectar secretion dynamics of the species generally showed an increasing trend early in the morning, peaking toward midday, followed by a decline but different species observed to have different peak nectar secretion times.
Generally, the tree species secreted more nectar sugar/flower than the herbs.
The nectar secretion amount of the species was positively correlated with the ambient temperature, indicating the adaptation of the species to hot climatic conditions.
However, different species were observed to have a different optimum temperature for peak nectar secretion.
Despite the limited rainfall and high temperature of the area, many plants were found to have good potential for honey production.
The monetary value of honey per hectare of the studied honeybee plant species can be of equal or greater than the per-hectare monetary value of some cultivated crops that require numerous inputs.
In addition, the information generated is believed to be useful in apiary site selection and to estimate the honey bee colony carrying capacity of an area.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Adgaba, Nuru& al-Ghamidi, Ahmad& Tadesse, Yilma& Getachew, Awraris& Awad, Awad M.& Ansari, Muhammad Javid…[et al.]. 2017. Nectar secretion dynamics and honey production potentials of some major honey plants in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences،Vol. 24, no. 1, pp.180-191.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-753816
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Adgaba, Nuru…[et al.]. Nectar secretion dynamics and honey production potentials of some major honey plants in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences Vol. 24, no. 1 (Jan. 2017), pp.180-191.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-753816
American Medical Association (AMA)
Adgaba, Nuru& al-Ghamidi, Ahmad& Tadesse, Yilma& Getachew, Awraris& Awad, Awad M.& Ansari, Muhammad Javid…[et al.]. Nectar secretion dynamics and honey production potentials of some major honey plants in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2017. Vol. 24, no. 1, pp.180-191.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-753816
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references : p. 189-191
Record ID
BIM-753816