Pollination studies in Apple ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.)
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Date
2023-08
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CCSHAU, Hisar
Abstract
The present investigations entitled ‘Pollination studies in Apple ber (Ziziphus mauritiana
Lamk.)’were carried out in the Apple ber orchard situated at the Horticulture Experimental Area and
P.G. Laboratory of the Department of Entomology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during
2022. A total of 25 insects species belonging to 17 families of 5 order were recorded on the Apple ber
bloom. Hymenopterans were accounted for up to 75.20% of the total visitors followed by dipterans.
Among hymenopterans Apis florea (2.88 per branch/5min) was the most abundant species followed
by A. mellifera (2.09 per branch/5min) and A. dorsata (1.40 per branch/5min), whereas among
dipterans, Lucilla sericata was the most abundant (1.16 per branch/5min). The temporal abundance
of insect visitors recorded on Apple ber bloom was highest at 1400 h (1.86) and lowest at 0600 h (0.09)
(per branch/5min). The highest foraging rate was observed for A. dorsata (19.47 flowers per minute),
and lowest foraging rate was observed for A. florea (8.29 flowers/minute). The maximum mean
foraging speed was observed in A. florea 6.22 seconds for nectar reward and it was lowest in A. dorsata
(2.33 seconds) for pollen reward. The loose pollen grains (LPG) carrying capacity was highest for A.
dorsata (109584) followed by A. mellifera (71827) and it was lowest for A. florea (42806). The
maximum Relative Pollination efficiency (RPE) was recorded in A. dorsata (16.21) followed by A.
mellifera (14.45) and it was lowest in case of A. cerana (4.90). It was observed that pollen (13.18) and
nectar+pollen (13.05) foragers exhibited maximum and second maximum RPE, respectively. The Dry
nectar sugar (DNS) production was maximum in one day old flower (0.65 mg/flower) as compared to
two-days old flower (0.28 mg/flower) while the maximum DNS production was observed at 1200 h
and least at 0900 h. The quantitative and qualitative parameters of Apple ber fruits were almost similar
in bee and open pollination treatments while TSS, ascorbic acid and sugar content were reported
maximum in open pollination and bee pollination treatments. Fruits in without insect pollination
treatment had maximum acidity.