Effect of Plant Volatile Components on Honey Bee Flower Visitation: A Review

Authors : Neslihan Özsoy, Ekin Varol

Pages : 280-291

Doi:10.18615/anadolu.1684107

View : 66 | Download : 100

Publication Date : 2025-12-31

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :Flower scents are pleasant and attractive odors naturally emitted by flowers. These scents are formed by the combination of different components in flowers, and the most common are volatile organic compounds, terpenes, esters, phenolic compounds, aldehydes and ketones, alcohols, and acids. Volatile odors in plants are chemical compounds produced either to protect the plants themselves or to support the pollination process. These odors can have various effects on insects. For example, some plant volatiles simulate unfavorable or harmful conditions for insects, while some plants use their odor to attract and trap insects. Other plants attract insects by emitting odors to encourage pollination. Insects use morphological and olfactory cues when foraging for food. Honey bees visit plants depending on whether they are attracted by the plant’s volatile scents. The unique scents of flowers attract honey bees during which the bees inadvertently transfer pollen, thereby facilitating plant reproduction through pollination. In addition, honey bees are capable of learning diverse floral volatiles and retaining this information in their memory. In this way, they can return to the flowers of the same plants. However, certain adverse conditions can disrupt the volatile emissions of plants. Pesticides, air pollution, chemical contaminants, climate change, humidity, CO₂ levels, plant diseases, soil salinity, mineral content, pH imbalances, harmful insects or other organisms, as well as interspecific interactions, can all contribute to this disruption. Moreover, genetic diversity influences the capacity of plants to adapt to environmental stresses, and limited diversity may negatively affect the production of volatile compounds. To sustain pollination and, consequently, biodiversity, it is essential to address these adverse factors. Equally important is the identification of floral traits influencing bee visitation and the improvement of these traits through breeding programs or the development of enhanced plant varieties to support crop diversification.
Keywords : Bal arısı, biyoçeşitlilik, bitkisel koku, bitki uçucu bileşikleri, tozlaşma

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL