Nectar secretion dynamics and honey production potentials of some major honey plants in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

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 ( < 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 to 829 kg/hectare in. 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.

In vitro evaluation of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus susceptibility to Saudi honeys

“…However, Sumra (Acacia tortilis), Talha (Acacia origena), Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi), Dahiana (Acacia asak) and Lavendula species are the most important sources of honey production in the Taif, Al-Baha and Asir regions [44]. Both Acacia and Ziziphus species are drought and heat tolerant and are distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of Saudi Arabia [45]. Honey produced from Sidr trees is dark brown in colour and the is most popular and expensive because of its unique aroma and taste [46].…”

Pollinators in food webs: Mutualistic interactions increase diversity, stability, and function in multiplex networks

“…Also, the cryptic yet critically important rates determining reward availability are only rarely estimated. For example, Baude et al 57 suggest that nectar productivity of meadows in the UK can be up to ~5-10% of net primary productivity and Adgabe et al 58 estimate nearly 1000 kg/ha of floral sugar is produced in a 5-month flowering season by a single tree species. Pollen production may significantly increase such estimates and accounting for seasonality of reward production and pollinator activity could greatly decrease estimates of resource demand needed to sustain pollinators.…”

Melissopalynology and Climatic Variation: Case of Honey Attributed to Euphorbia Resinifera, Region of Azilal (Morocco).

“…nectar production (Carrión-Tacuriet al, 2012) and increase sugar concentration (Carroll et al, 2001). Domesticated bees prefer average sugar concentrations (Waller, 1972;Roubik and Buchmann, 1984) however low (Bolten and Feinsinger, 1978) or high concentrations of sugar (Adgaba et al, 2017) in nectariferous plants can limit melittophilia. For Mitchell and Waser (1992) and Mitchell (1993), there is a positive relationship between nectar production and frequency of pollinator visits.…”