STRUCTURE OF FLORAL NECTARIES OF ALFALFA (MEDICAGO SATIVA L.) IN RELATION TO NECTAR PRODUCTION

Abstract

Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) plants differ in nectar volume production per floret. These differences are heritable, but no information is available on what type of structural variation may be responsible for these differences. One high, one intermediate, and one low nectar‐volume‐producing clone was selected from each of two alfalfa cultivars. Results from light and scanning electron microscopy indicated that alfalfa has an annular nectary located on the staminal column and primarily on the receptacle. It is composed of several cell layers subtended by vascular bundles containing both xylem and phloem. Vascular tissue does not extend into nectariferous tissue. Permanently open stomata are present in the epidermal layer and are thought to function in nectar secretion. These stomata did not respond to stimuli known to affect leaf stomata. Number of stomata per nectary among the six clones ranged from 24.7 ± 1.9 to 6.8 ± 0.5. Nectar‐reservoir diameters among clones ranged from 1.07 ± 0.09 mm to 0.70 ± 0.01 mm. Clones producing the most nectar were characterized by a large nectar reservoir and moderate to high numbers of stomata.