Effects of Climate Change Scenarios on Growth, Flowering Characteristics, and Honey Production Potential of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>

Climate change significantly influences plants’ physiology, flowering phenology, and nectar production, affecting pollinator interactions and apicultural sustainability. This study examines the physiological responses of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> (Nakai) Holub var. <i>subin...

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Main Authors: Kyeong-Cheol Lee, Yeong-Geun Song, Hyun-Jung Koo, Kyung-Jun Kim, Hyung-Joo Kim, Ha-Young Baek, Sung-Joon Na
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1647
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author Kyeong-Cheol Lee
Yeong-Geun Song
Hyun-Jung Koo
Kyung-Jun Kim
Hyung-Joo Kim
Ha-Young Baek
Sung-Joon Na
author_facet Kyeong-Cheol Lee
Yeong-Geun Song
Hyun-Jung Koo
Kyung-Jun Kim
Hyung-Joo Kim
Ha-Young Baek
Sung-Joon Na
author_sort Kyeong-Cheol Lee
collection DOAJ
description Climate change significantly influences plants’ physiology, flowering phenology, and nectar production, affecting pollinator interactions and apicultural sustainability. This study examines the physiological responses of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> (Nakai) Holub var. <i>subintegrum</i> (Nakai) T.Yamaz. (Plantaginaceae) under projected climate change scenarios, focusing on flowering traits, nectar secretion, and honey production potential. Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> levels enhanced its net photosynthesis and water-use efficiency, supporting sustained carbohydrate assimilation and promoting aboveground biomass accumulation. However, the increased nitrogen demand for vegetative growth and inflorescence production may have led to reduced allocation of nitrogen to the nectar, contributing to a decline in its amino acid concentrations. The flowering period advanced with rising temperatures, with peak bloom occurring up to four days earlier under the SSP5 conditions. While the nectar secretion per flower remained stable, an increase in floral abundance led to a 3.8-fold rise in the estimated honey production per hectare. The analysis of the nectar’s composition revealed that sucrose hydrolysis intensified under higher temperatures, shifting the nectar toward a hexose-rich profile. Although nectar quality slightly declined due to reductions in sucrose and nitrogen-rich amino acids, phenylalanine—the most preferred amino acid by honeybees—remained dominant across all scenarios. These findings confirm the strong climate resilience of <i>P. rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>, highlighting its potential as a sustainable nectar source in future apicultural landscapes. Given the crucial role of nitrogen in both plant growth and nectar composition, future research should explore soil nitrogen dynamics and plant nitrogen metabolism to ensure long-term sustainability in plant–pollinator interactions and apicultural practices.
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spelling doaj-art-74803bcd027f45be9b5e47baac4c74912025-08-20T02:32:57ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-05-011411164710.3390/plants14111647Effects of Climate Change Scenarios on Growth, Flowering Characteristics, and Honey Production Potential of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>Kyeong-Cheol Lee0Yeong-Geun Song1Hyun-Jung Koo2Kyung-Jun Kim3Hyung-Joo Kim4Ha-Young Baek5Sung-Joon Na6Department of Crops and Forestry, Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries, Jeonju 54874, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Foresty, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Crops and Forestry, Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries, Jeonju 54874, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Environment and Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Forest Sciences, Kongju National University, Yesan 32439, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Bio-Functional Material, Kangwon National University, Samcheok 25913, Republic of KoreaDivision of Special Forest Resources, National Institute of Forest Science, Suwon 16631, Republic of KoreaClimate change significantly influences plants’ physiology, flowering phenology, and nectar production, affecting pollinator interactions and apicultural sustainability. This study examines the physiological responses of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> (Nakai) Holub var. <i>subintegrum</i> (Nakai) T.Yamaz. (Plantaginaceae) under projected climate change scenarios, focusing on flowering traits, nectar secretion, and honey production potential. Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> levels enhanced its net photosynthesis and water-use efficiency, supporting sustained carbohydrate assimilation and promoting aboveground biomass accumulation. However, the increased nitrogen demand for vegetative growth and inflorescence production may have led to reduced allocation of nitrogen to the nectar, contributing to a decline in its amino acid concentrations. The flowering period advanced with rising temperatures, with peak bloom occurring up to four days earlier under the SSP5 conditions. While the nectar secretion per flower remained stable, an increase in floral abundance led to a 3.8-fold rise in the estimated honey production per hectare. The analysis of the nectar’s composition revealed that sucrose hydrolysis intensified under higher temperatures, shifting the nectar toward a hexose-rich profile. Although nectar quality slightly declined due to reductions in sucrose and nitrogen-rich amino acids, phenylalanine—the most preferred amino acid by honeybees—remained dominant across all scenarios. These findings confirm the strong climate resilience of <i>P. rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>, highlighting its potential as a sustainable nectar source in future apicultural landscapes. Given the crucial role of nitrogen in both plant growth and nectar composition, future research should explore soil nitrogen dynamics and plant nitrogen metabolism to ensure long-term sustainability in plant–pollinator interactions and apicultural practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1647<i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>climate changenectar secretionhoney productionphotosynthesisbeekeeping
spellingShingle Kyeong-Cheol Lee
Yeong-Geun Song
Hyun-Jung Koo
Kyung-Jun Kim
Hyung-Joo Kim
Ha-Young Baek
Sung-Joon Na
Effects of Climate Change Scenarios on Growth, Flowering Characteristics, and Honey Production Potential of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>
Plants
<i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>
climate change
nectar secretion
honey production
photosynthesis
beekeeping
title Effects of Climate Change Scenarios on Growth, Flowering Characteristics, and Honey Production Potential of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>
title_full Effects of Climate Change Scenarios on Growth, Flowering Characteristics, and Honey Production Potential of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>
title_fullStr Effects of Climate Change Scenarios on Growth, Flowering Characteristics, and Honey Production Potential of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Climate Change Scenarios on Growth, Flowering Characteristics, and Honey Production Potential of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>
title_short Effects of Climate Change Scenarios on Growth, Flowering Characteristics, and Honey Production Potential of <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>
title_sort effects of climate change scenarios on growth flowering characteristics and honey production potential of i pseudolysimachion rotundum i var i subintegrum i
topic <i>Pseudolysimachion rotundum</i> var. <i>subintegrum</i>
climate change
nectar secretion
honey production
photosynthesis
beekeeping
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/11/1647
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