Differential attractiveness of sunflower cultivars to the honeybee Apis mellifera L

In France, sunflower honey production has decreased since the nineties and professional beekeepers report important honey yield variability between years and locations. Consequently, melliferous potential of current sunflower cultivars is questioned as it is not part of traits held in breeding programs. To investigate this question, a 3-years study was conducted on two sites and attractiveness for honeybees of 13 current sunflower cultivars was assessed under natural conditions. The number of honeybee visits per plant was recorded daily during blooming period on cultivars randomly distributed on experimental plots. Sunflower genetic was a major factor influencing honeybee attendance on plots and discrepancy between most and least visited cultivars reached a factor of 3. Cultivars relative attractiveness was consistent between years and sites. Potential link between sunflower attractiveness for honeybees and its melliferous characteristics is discussed. If confirmed, farmers’ choice concerning cultivars at a territory scale could contribute to enhance nectar resource for pollinators and to increase viability of apicultural activity.