Unexpected Contribution of the Introduced Honeybee Apis mellifera to High Fruit Set in Spiranthes australis (Orchidaceae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenji Suetsugu ◽  
Yusuke Abe
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Introduced Honeybee

Vertebrate pollination of the endemic Trochetia granulata (Malvaceae) on Réunion

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothée Le Péchon ◽  
Mickaël Sanchez ◽  
Laurence Humeau ◽  
Luc D.B. Gigord ◽  
Li-Bing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Breeding System ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollination Ecology ◽  
Floral Traits ◽  
Compatibility Studies ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Hand Pollination ◽  
Pollen Vector

Abstract:The pollination ecology and breeding system of Trochetia granulata (Malvaceae), an endemic tree species from Réunion were studied. In 2010–2011, compatibility studies were conducted on a total of 154 flowers from 35 different individuals using three different hand pollination treatments: (a) autofertility, (b) self-pollination and (c) cross-pollination. During the period, we also studied the pollination ecology of T. granulata. During 48 h of video recordings, we tracked flower visits to T. granulata in six different sites and studied the behaviour of the visitors. The results from the hand-cross experiments show that T. granulata is self-compatible (60.8% fruit set) but cannot produce fruit (5.4% fruit set) without the visit of a pollen vector. During surveys, four different visitors were reported: the introduced honey bee (Apis mellifera), two endemic species of white-eye (Zosterops borbonicus borbonicus and Z. olivaceus) and the endemic Réunion day gecko (Phelsuma borbonica). This study documented a new case of vertebrate-pollination by lizard and birds in an insular context. These interactions might be linked to several uncommon floral traits of Trochetia species.

scholarly journals Pollination and Fruit Set of Pumpkins in Growers' Fields in New York's Capital District

HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 462D-462
Author(s):  
H. Chris Wien ◽  
Dale Riggs
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Cucurbita Pepo ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Female Flower ◽  
Stigmatic Surface ◽  
Black Light ◽  
Pollen Removal ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Female Flowers

Reports of sharply reduced feral bee populations (Apis mellifera) due to harsh winters and prevalence of several bee diseases have raised concerns that pollination and fruit set in pumpkin fields will be adversely affected. In 1995 and 1996, five and eight pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) fields, respectively, were inventoried on three occasions per season for pollinator activity and percent fruit set. Pollen removal from male flowers was determined visually using a rating scale, while deposition of pollen on stigmata of female flowers was judged by rating fluorescence of pollen on the stigmatic surface under a “black light.” Samples were taken from 15 to 30 locations in each field, and female flowers tagged. These were considered set if they had enlarged to fist size within 14 days. In both years, the amount of pollen remaining on male flowers was negatively correlated with female flower fluorescence ratings. Neither pollen on male flowers nor stigma fluorescence were significantly correlated with percent fruit set. Fifty-two percent of tagged flowers set fruit in both years, with a range of 24% to 84%, and 17% to 78% in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Presence of bee hives in or near the fields had no effect on fruit set. The results indicate that the pollen removal and deposition ratings used were not reliable for predicting fruit set in farmers' fields. In these 2 years, bee hives were not needed in the sampled fields.

scholarly journals Osmia lignaria (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) produce larger and heavier blueberries than honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Cairns Fortuin ◽  
Kamal JK Gandhi
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Solitary Bee ◽  
Field Cage ◽  
Vaccinium Ashei ◽  
Osmia Lignaria ◽  
Berry Weight ◽  
Berry Size

AbstractFruit set, berry size, and berry weight were assessed for pollination by the solitary bee Osmia lignaria (Say) in caged rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Reade, Ericales : Ericaceae), and compared to that of uncaged rabbiteye blueberries which were pollinated largely by honey bees (Apis mellifera L). O. linaria produced berries that were 1.6mm larger in diameter and 0.45g heavier than uncaged blueberries. Fruit set was 40% higher in uncaged blueberries. This suggests that Osmia bees can produce larger and heavier berry fruit, but O. lignaria may be less efficient at blueberry pollination as compared to A. mellifera under field cage conditions.

Honeybee pollination of highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum)

1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
RD Goodman ◽  
KA Clayton-Greene
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Highbush Blueberries ◽  
Insect Visitors

The role of honeybees (Apis mellifera) in the pollination of highbush blueberries was studied in an experimental planting at Knoxfield, Victoria. Honeybees comprised 95.4% of all insect visitors to this crop, and their foraging activity made them efficient pollinators. Plants visited by bees had a greater percentage fruit set (61 v. 18%), increased fruit numbers (1156 v. 144) and more fruit by weight (1.6 v. 0.2 kg), than did plants caged to prevent access by bees and larger insects. Bird netting did not impede pollination. Flowers inside a bird-proof cage had a greater frequency of bee visitations (8.25 v. 1.5 bees/14 plants) than did plants outside the enclosure.

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