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Subject: Zoology × Author: Girdher, Ritu × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2004 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on relative attractiveness of different cultivars of ber (Zizyphus mauritiania Lamk.) to the insect pollinators
    (CCSHAU, 2008) Girdher, Ritu; Sihag, R.C.
    The abundance of the insect pollinators was taken as a measure of relative attractiveness of four defferent varieties of ber viz. Gola, Katha Phal, Umran and Illaichi grown in the adjoining fields. On this basis, all the major pollinators of this plant i.e. Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Apis mellifera, Polistes hebraeus and dipterans were found to prefer Gola, followed by Katha Phal, Umran and Illaichi. So order of preference on the basis of abundance was Gola>Katha Phal>Umran>Illaichi and order of preference in case of pollinators was A. florea>dipterans>P. hebraeus>A. mellifera>A. dorsata. On the basis of pollinating efficiency of the pollinators derived from their abundance, foraging rates and duration of activity, A. florea was found to be the most efficient pollinator of all the four varieties of ber. In the present study, significant differences existed in floral sizes of four varieties of ber. But these differences were not significant from the pollinator point of view. So these attributes did not seem to be determinant in deciding the relative attractiveness of four varieties of ber. On a single variety, size of the pollinator and tongue length seemed to be the factors for their preference but for intervarietal attractiveness in ber, these attributes were not determinant one. Floral colour, nectar sugar quality and sugar and protein concentration in anthers were not the determinant factors for deciding the preference of pollinators for four varieties of ber. Nectar sugar concentration and flower density were the determinant factors in deciding the relative attractiveness of four varieties of ber. On the basis of flower density and nectar sugar concentration order of preference among varieties was Gola> Katha Phal> Umran> Illaichi and among pollinators was A. florea>dipterans>P. hebraeus>A. mellifera>A. dorsata. On the basis of pollinator’s preference, growing of Gola, Katha phal, Umran and Illaichi varieties of ber in the adjoining fields is anticipated to promote unidirectional flow of the intervarietal pollen. The flower density should, therefore, be taken into consideration while growing different varieties of ber in the adjoining fields. Horticulture breeders should take nectar sugar concentration as a breeding parameter while making selections of the varieties.