Abstract
Abstract To characterize plant chemicals cueing honeybees preferences between sunflower genotypes selected to produce hybrid seeds, combined behavioral and chemical analyses were undertaken. From observations of the foraging behavior under field conditions, bees' preferences between female and male parent lines were shown. Since bees' attraction to plants is based upon an associative conditioning between food, provided by nectar and pollen, and plant volatiles, these components were compared between genotypes. Sugar composition of nectars was analyzed by gas chromatography: glucose, fructose and sucrose were identified, with sucrose inducing bees' preferences. Pollen production was quantified on parent lines and resulting hybrid varieties, using a coulter-counter device. Differences among parent lines and heredity effect were found. However, there were strong interaction between parental lines and high variability within genotypes. Pollenkitt analysis, using thin layer chromatography was undertaken to sep...
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