Pollination potential of stingless bee Tetragonula iridipennis smith in ash gourd Chauhan Avinash*, Singh H.K., Kumaranag K.M.1 Department of Entomology, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Nagaland University, Medziphema, Nagaland 1Project Coordinating Cell, AICRP on Honey bees and Pollinators, Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 *Email: avi_shimla@hotmail.com (corresponding author)
Abstract The present study is on the Tetragonula iridipennis and to ascertain its role as pollinators of ash gourd. The study was done under protected conditions, with four treatments-T. iridipennis pollination, Apis cerana pollination, open pollination and control (pollinator exclusion). Crop was raised as per good agricultural practices. Comparative foraging activity of the pollinators was observed. Colonies of T. iridipennis and A.cerana were introduced at 5% blooming stage in separate cages. The observations on relative abundance, foraging rate, foraging speed and loose pollen grains were made ascertain the pollination efficiency. Fruit production and quality parameters (fruit yield, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, seed number, seed weight etc.) were observed for each treatment. In control experiment, no pollinator was allowed to visit the crop. The evaluation of pollination potential revealed their effects on crop production and productivity. Data revealed many folds increase in fruit set (27.96%) and quality with T. iridipennis as compared to open and A. cerana pollination. Significantly the least fruit set (54.60%) was observed in without pollination. Thus, an increase of 634% was observed in increase in income of farmers. Top Keywords Tetragonula iridipennis, Apis cerana, ash gourd, pollination index, protected conditions, pollination, yield and quality, cost benefit ratio. Top |