International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research
Abbreviation: IJIAAR | ISSN (Online): 2602-4772 | DOI: 10.29329/ijiaar

Research article    |    Open Access
International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research Volume 10 (2026)

Potential Use of Essential Oil Nanoemulsions as Bee Attractants in Seed Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Production

Arıf Şanlı, Fatma Zehra Ok

pp. 1 - 12   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiaar.2026.1423.12

Publish Date: May 27, 2026  |   Single/Total View: 0/0   |   Single/Total Download: 0/0

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Abstract

This study was conducted under field conditions in 2024 to determine the effects of certain essential oils on enhancing the pollination efficiency of honeybees in hybrid sunflower seed production. In the study, nanoemulsions (NEs) of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and sage (Salvia officinalis) essential oils were prepared at a 5% concentration and applied via drone at doses of 1000 and 2000 ppm to the male and female sunflower parent lines at the beginning of the flowering period. At 50% flowering, the highest bee activity was observed in the plots treated with 2000 ppm C. citratus essential oil NE, while bee visits in plots treated with 1000 ppm R. officinalis and S. officinalis essential oil NEs and Tween-80 - chitosan NE were similar to the control. Applications of essential oil NEs resulted in increases of up to 28% in the filled seed ratio, 34% in seed number, and 38% in seed yield. The study concluded that 2000 ppm C. citratus NE enhanced bee activity, thereby improving seed set in sunflowers, and can be practically used in hybrid sunflower seed production.

Keywords: Sunflower, Bee activity, Attractant, Essential oil, Nanoemulsion

How to Cite this Article?

APA 7th edition
Sanli, A., & Ok, F.Z. (2026). Potential Use of Essential Oil Nanoemulsions as Bee Attractants in Seed Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Production. International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research, 10(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiaar.2026.1423.12

Harvard
Sanli, A. and Ok, F. (2026). Potential Use of Essential Oil Nanoemulsions as Bee Attractants in Seed Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Production. International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research, 10(1), pp. 1-12.

Chicago 16th edition
Sanli, Arif and Fatma Zehra Ok (2026). "Potential Use of Essential Oil Nanoemulsions as Bee Attractants in Seed Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Production". International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research 10 (1):1-12. https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiaar.2026.1423.12
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