Diversity of Insect Pollinators and their Impact on Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) Production with Special Reference to Apis cerana F.
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Date
2021-07
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Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu
Abstract
The studies were conducted to determine the insect pollinators visiting apple flowers, there foraging behaviour in relation to weather parameters and impact of insect pollination on qualitative and quantitative parameters of apple with special reference to Apis cerana F. The studies revealed that Apple flowers attracted insects belonging to five orders which included Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Thysanoptera. Of all the orders, insects belonging to order Hymenoptera were most abundant. They included honey bee Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, bumble bees Bombus spp. Anthophoride Xylocopa fenestrata, X. aestuans, X. pubescens, X. valga, Halictidae Halictus spp.,Nomia spp., Lasiogllosum spp.,Ceratina spp., Melissodes spp., Colletidae Colleteseous, vespidae Vespa orientalis, V. Cincta, V. Mandarinia, Polistes hebraeus, megachilidae Osmia spp., Andrenidae Andrena flaviceps, Formicide Camponotus compressus. Of these entire insect visitors honeybee were most abundant and comprised of more than 48 % of the total flower visitors.
The relative abundance of honey bees varied during different days of observation on apple flowers. Apis mellifera was most abundant on all days of observations. Initially population was low which increased with flowering intensity and maximum population was obtained on 24th of April 2019. Similarly in case of Apis cerana population was low during initial days of observation which increased subsequently to maximum on 24th of April 2019. In case of bumble bees and other insect visitors population increased with increase in intensity of bloom. In general the abundance of honeybees, bumble bees and other visitors was in the order: Apis mellifera>Apis cerana> other spp.>Bombus spp. During 2020, the relative abundance of honey bees varied during different days of observation on apple flowers. In cv. Red delicious also similar pattern was observed with slight variations in overall composition of bee species. In this cultivar also, number of insect visitors were lees during initial days of observations which increased subsequently as the season progressed and bloom density increased, In general the abundance of honeybees, bumble bees and other visitors was in the order: A. mellifera>A. cerana> other spp.>Bombus spp.
Correlation analysis of the data showed that populations dynamics of Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, Bombus spp. and other insects visting apple flowers during April 2019 cv. Starkrimsonwere significantly correlated with increasing temperature. However relation with relative humidity was negative, low and non-significant. Indicating that the bee activity was not much influenced by relative humidity. During 2020 similar trend was observed except that relation with relative humidity was highly significant and negative. In case of cv. Red delicious correlation analysis revealed that during 2019 and 2020 bee activity was correlated significantly and positively with air temperature and negatively with relative humidity during both the years.
The data showed that there were significant differences in fruit set in different pollination treatments. Fruit set was much higher in bee pollinated plants as compared to natural pollination. The result clearly revealed that the bee pollination significantly improved the quality and quantity of fruit production over open pollination. The data showed that there were significant differences in fruit set in different pollination treatments. The open pollinated fruits had significantly higher fruit weight than control. The result clearly revealed that the open pollination significantly improved the quality and quantity of fruit production over control. Evidently, In insect pollination especially pollination by bees is essential for quality and quantity of fruit production in apple.
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Preferred for your work_Vikram 2021. Diversity of insect pollinators and their impact on apple ( Malus domestica borkh.) production with special reference to Apis Cerana F. SKUAST-JAMMU