Phenolic Compounds in Nectar of <i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L.

<i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L. are common spring-flowering species in Slovenia. They occur in large stands and sometimes overgrow in unmanaged meadows. They are known as an excellent source of nectar for bees and other pollinators. Phenolic compo...

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Main Authors: Katja Malovrh, Blanka Ravnjak, Mitja Križman, Jože Bavcon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2064
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author Katja Malovrh
Blanka Ravnjak
Mitja Križman
Jože Bavcon
author_facet Katja Malovrh
Blanka Ravnjak
Mitja Križman
Jože Bavcon
author_sort Katja Malovrh
collection DOAJ
description <i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L. are common spring-flowering species in Slovenia. They occur in large stands and sometimes overgrow in unmanaged meadows. They are known as an excellent source of nectar for bees and other pollinators. Phenolic compounds are known as antioxidant for both pollinators and plants. We were interested in comparing plant species in terms of their phenolic compound content: rutin, quercetin, (iso)quercitrin, chlorogenic acid, and hyperoside. Their nectar was obtained from both plant species in 2024 in Ljubljana and the area surrounding Ljubljana. We took 96 samples of each species. The nectar was sampled with microcapillary tubes and analysed by HPLC. When studying the influence of abiotic factors on the concentration of phenolic compounds, the correlations were weak, so we cannot say with certainty which environmental factors affect which phenolic compounds and in what way. Rutin is predominant in the nectar of <i>P. spinosa</i> and chlorogenic acid is predominant in the nectar of <i>C. monogyna</i>. Hyperoside is found in the lowest concentration in both plant species. We found that although <i>C. monogyna</i> secreted much less nectar at midday, it was more concentrated in phenolic compounds at this time than in the morning. In <i>P. spinosa</i>, nectar secretion was highest in the morning, and the concentration of phenolic compounds was also highest in the morning.
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spelling doaj-art-9c6d512d8b144bf3b92ec3d51367de032025-08-20T02:36:23ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-07-011413206410.3390/plants14132064Phenolic Compounds in Nectar of <i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L.Katja Malovrh0Blanka Ravnjak1Mitja Križman2Jože Bavcon3Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, University Botanic Gardens Ljubljana, Ižanska 15, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaBiotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, University Botanic Gardens Ljubljana, Ižanska 15, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1001 Ljubljana, SloveniaBiotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, University Botanic Gardens Ljubljana, Ižanska 15, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia<i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L. are common spring-flowering species in Slovenia. They occur in large stands and sometimes overgrow in unmanaged meadows. They are known as an excellent source of nectar for bees and other pollinators. Phenolic compounds are known as antioxidant for both pollinators and plants. We were interested in comparing plant species in terms of their phenolic compound content: rutin, quercetin, (iso)quercitrin, chlorogenic acid, and hyperoside. Their nectar was obtained from both plant species in 2024 in Ljubljana and the area surrounding Ljubljana. We took 96 samples of each species. The nectar was sampled with microcapillary tubes and analysed by HPLC. When studying the influence of abiotic factors on the concentration of phenolic compounds, the correlations were weak, so we cannot say with certainty which environmental factors affect which phenolic compounds and in what way. Rutin is predominant in the nectar of <i>P. spinosa</i> and chlorogenic acid is predominant in the nectar of <i>C. monogyna</i>. Hyperoside is found in the lowest concentration in both plant species. We found that although <i>C. monogyna</i> secreted much less nectar at midday, it was more concentrated in phenolic compounds at this time than in the morning. In <i>P. spinosa</i>, nectar secretion was highest in the morning, and the concentration of phenolic compounds was also highest in the morning.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2064blackthornhawthornnectarphenolic compounds
spellingShingle Katja Malovrh
Blanka Ravnjak
Mitja Križman
Jože Bavcon
Phenolic Compounds in Nectar of <i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L.
Plants
blackthorn
hawthorn
nectar
phenolic compounds
title Phenolic Compounds in Nectar of <i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L.
title_full Phenolic Compounds in Nectar of <i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L.
title_fullStr Phenolic Compounds in Nectar of <i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L.
title_full_unstemmed Phenolic Compounds in Nectar of <i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L.
title_short Phenolic Compounds in Nectar of <i>Crataegus monogyna</i> Jacq. and <i>Prunus spinosa</i> L.
title_sort phenolic compounds in nectar of i crataegus monogyna i jacq and i prunus spinosa i l
topic blackthorn
hawthorn
nectar
phenolic compounds
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2064
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