Nectar is the most important reward offered by flowering plants to pollinators for pollination services. Since pollinator decline has emerged as a major threat for agriculture, and the food demand is growing globally, studying the nectar gland is of utmost importance. Although the genetic mechanisms that control the development of angiosperm flowers have been quite well understood for many years, the development and maturation of the nectar gland and the secretion of nectar in synchrony with the maturation of the sexual organs appears to be one of the flower’s best-kept secrets. Here we review key findings controlling these processes. We also raise key questions that need to be addressed to develop crop ecological functions that take into consideration pollinators’ needs.

花蜜是开花植物向授粉者提供授粉服务的最重要奖励。由于传粉媒介的减少已经成为对农业的主要威胁，并且全球粮食需求正在增长，因此研究花蜜腺至关重要。尽管控制被子植物花发育的遗传机制已经很多年了，但是花蜜腺的发育和成熟以及与性器官成熟同步的花蜜分泌似乎是花的最好的之一。保持秘密。在这里，我们回顾了控制这些过程的主要发现。我们还提出了一些关键问题，以考虑到授粉者的需求来发展作物的生态功能。