Nectar reduction in Petunia: it doesn't pay to cheat
Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 09:28
in Mathematics & Economics
A researcher in Switzerland has bred a new line of petunia that produces significantly more seeds and less nectar than normal petunia. The downside of these positive changes is that pollinators spend less time visiting petunias that offer less nectar, which results in a lower seed production. The work shows that the cost-benefit ratio for the plant remains neutral.