Role of various honey bee species in seed production of onion (allium cepa L.)
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Date
2009-05-29
Authors
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Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani
Abstract
Studies were made on pollinator fauna of onion, comparative
foraging behaviour of various species of honey bees, effect on bee pollination
on productivity and quality and effect of bee attractant Bee-Q on bee activity
on onion seed at Department of Horticulture, Marathwada Agricultural
University, Parbhani during rabi season of 2009. Among the total pollinators
Apis jlorea was dominant constituting 62 per cent of tothi pollinators followed
by A. dorsata and Trigona sp. (28 and 4.0 per cent), respectively.
The intensity of Apis jlorea, Apis cerana and Trigona were
reached at its peak 10.00- 12.00 hrs, while Apis dorsata, Apis mellifera and
other pollinator reached at its peak 14.00 - 16.00 hrs. The intensity of all the
bees found to be highest at 151
h day after 1 0 per cent flowering.
Apis jlorea was proved be efficient foragers and Apis jlorea
visited more number of flowers. Number of honey bees arising after foraging
in hive were found highest in Apis cerana colony as compared to Apis
mellifera. Significantly higher number of seeds per umbel were recorded in
the treatment one colony Apis jlorea and 4 framed colony of Apis cerana
which accounted for 36.43 and 31 .95 per cent increase over PWI treatment
respective! y.
One colony of Apis jlorea, 4 framed colony of Apis cerana and
2 framed colony of Apis mellifera contributed significantly heavier seeds per
umbel over PWI. All the treatments produced significant increase in yield
over PWI. Highest yield of 247.09 kg!ha was obtained in the treatment one
colony of Apis jlorea which accounted for 67.23 and 60.52 per cent increase
over PWI and open pollination respectively.
Thousand seed weight was significantly higher in treatments
one colony of Apis jlorea, 4 framed colony of Apis cerana and 2 framed
colony of Apis mellifera. Highest test weight was recorded in one Apis jlorea
colony (7.09) over PWI and open pollination (4.91) and 5.45 respectively.
Decreasing percentage of crinkled seed was highest in one Apis jlorea colony
being 4.77 per cent against 433.3 and 210.9 per cent decrease in PWI and open
pollination, respectively. Increasing per cent seed setting was highest in one
Apis jlorea colony being 95.23 p r cent against 21.70 and 10.43 percent
increase in PWI and open pollination. Per cent of seed germination is highest
in one Apis jlorea colony (90 per cent) as against 11.11 and 12.88 per cent
increase over PWI and open pollination. Increasing percentage of emergence
was highest in one Apis jlorea (86.0 per cent) as against 13.95 and 16.27 per
cent increase over PWI and open pollination.
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