ISHS Acta Horticulturae 288: VI International Symposium on Pollination
EFFICACY OF HONEY BEES AS POLLINATORS OF KIWIFRUIT |
| Authors: | B.J. Donovan, P.E.C. Read |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1991.288.32 |
| Abstract:
Groups of 3–8 female flower buds in a 4 year old kiwifruit orchard were enclosed in bags of 1.5 mm mesh fibreglass netting. When the flowers were open, the bags were removed. After a visit by a honey bee, each flower was individually bagged with fibreglass netting. Non- visited flowers were similarly bagged as controls. Mature fruits were weighed, and seeds counted. For 24 control flowers, mean fruit weight was 24.8 g, and mean seed number 35.3. For 43 single bee-visited flowers, mean fruit weight was 46.2 g, and mean seed number was 262.3. A single bee visit therefore increased fruit weight by a mean 21.4 g and seed number by 227. The heaviest fruit from a control flower was 46.4 g, or 25.6 g below the 72 g minimum for export. This fruit had the maximum seed count for a control fruit of 110. Eleven of the bee-visited flowers produced fruits greater than 72 g, with the heaviest fruit weighing 119.8 g, and a maximum seed count of 1359. In addition to pollination by other agencies such as wind, 1 bee visit in 4 resulted in fruit of exportable weight. | |
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