Nectar production of Rubus arcticus
¹Institute of Horticulture, Estonian Agricultural University, Kreutzwaldi 64, 51 412 Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: kkarp@eau.ee
²Institute of Plant Protection, Estonian Agricultural University, Kreutzwaldi 64, 51 412 Tartu, Estonia, e-mail: mand@ut.ee
³Forest Research Institute, Estonian Agricultural University, Kreutzwaldi 64, 51 412 Tartu, Estonia, e-mail: tpaal@eau.ee
Abstract:
The aim of the research was to study floral nectar characteristics of different cultivars of arctic bramble in Estonian conditions. The amount of nectar and sugar concentration of the arctic bramble cultivar ‘Pima’ (from Finland) and a clone from Estonian wild nature (‘Kaansoo’) were studied in 1999. The cultivars differed in their flowering intensity and nectar producing ability. The abundance of flowers of the local clone (‘Kaansoo’) was significantly higher compared to the cultivar ‘Pima’, but the cultivar ‘Pima’ produced much more nectar than the Estonian clone. The concentration of sugar in nectar was significantly higher in flowers of the local clone. In comparison with other plants, the amount of nectar in arctic bramble flowers was not high, consequently, pollinators prefer plants richer in nectar. Therefore it is recommendable to cut the grass around a plantation and between the rows of arctic bramble during flowering and bring additional pollinators, e.g. honeybee hives, to the plantation.
Key words:
arctic bramble, Estonian clone, flower, sugar concentration