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Differences in Alfalfa Flower Volatiles Among Parent and F₁ Plants¹

Nonrandom pollination of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) by honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) may be based on the ability of honey bees to detect differences in flower aroma among the plants in the field. When the bees associate these aroma differences with nectar or pollen availability a strong basis for ethological isolation exists. The purpose of this work was to gather quantitative data on flower volatile emanation from seven alfalfa clones and on F₁ plants from these clones using one male sterile clone as a common parent. This information would assist alfalfa breeders as they consider factors involved in seed yield potential of new varieties. A gas liquid chromatography technique was used to measure the quantity of flower volatiles emanating from cut flowers from greenhouse plants. There was a six-fold difference in total volatiles and a 19-fold difference in ocimene (the major terpene of alfalfa flower volatiles) between the extremes of the parent clones. Among the F₁ plants tested, there was only a 2.5-fold difference in total volatiles and a 6-fold difference in ocimene between the extremes. The F₁ of one cross averaged nearly twice the ocimene level of either parent, which also raised total volatiles above that of either parent. Increased emanation of individual aroma compounds from flowers of some F₁ plants suggests that total flower aroma and floral aroma character can be genetically influenced. Thus it may be possible to alter the floral character of alfalfa to increase its attractiveness to honey bees for pollination.

Key Words: Terpenes • Pollination • Honey bees • Seed production • GLC • Olfaction • aroma

² Plant physiologist, ARS-USDA, 2000 East Allen Road, Tucson, AZ 85719.

Received for publication June 7, 1975.