Evaluation of indigenous bee attractants in sunflower
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Date
2008
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UAS, Dharwad
Abstract
Studies on the pollinator fauna of sunflower, impact of indigenous bee attractants on
bee visitation and yield parameters in Morden variety and KBSH-1 hybrid sunflower were
carried out in 2007 at Main Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad. Hymenopterans were
the most dominant pollinators and Apis dorsata constituted 97.33 per cent of the total
pollinators in Morden variety and 96.14% in KBSH-1 hybrid.
Attractants did not show uniform efficacy in Morden variety during kharif season due
to inclement weather. However during rabi season Fruit boost along with Swertia densifolia
and citral Z enticed more bees. The bees spent significantly more time on sprayed crop.
Spray of Fagara budrunga and S. densifolia recorded heavier heads (55.38 and 54.41
g) in Morden variety of sunflower. Per cent chaffiness was least in sugar solution and F.
budrunga treated crop (4.33 and 5.00 %) while number of seeds per head was highest in S.
densifolia, F. budrunga and citral Z treated crop. Swertia densifolia sprayed crop produced
highest yield of 19.53 q/ha. Application of bee attractants had no effect on 100-seed weight,
germination percentage, root length, shoot length and vigour index to the treated crop.
In KBSH-1 hybrid sunflower, higher 100-seed weight was recorded from Fruit boost
(5.72 g), S. densifolia (5.46 g) and citral Z (5.44 g) sprayed crop. Fagara budrunga and Fruit
boost sprayed crops produced higher number of seeds/head (278.75 and 244.17 seeds/head).
Fruit boost (12.90 q/ha), citral Z (12.30 q/ha), S. densifolia (12.15 q/ha), citral E (11.80 q/ha),
F. budrunga (11.15 q/ha) and sugar solution (11.05 q/ha) sprayed crops produced
significantly higher yield as against control (7.77 q/ha). Application of attractants failed to
improve head weight per plant and reduce per cent chaffiness in KBSH-1 crop.
Description
Keywords
Agricultural Entomology