Understanding the causes of stable nectar production in flowering plants has been a major challenge. Much remains to be learned about the costs and benefits of nectar production in flowering plants. Our novel use of a low-nectar introgression line allows for comparative cost-benefit analysis of nectar production in a single species. We have demonstrated that reduced nectar production in P. axillaris causes reduced seed set under greenhouse conditions, and that this reduction is a function of decreased pollinator probing duration.
