Pollination Efficiency of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Flowers of Foeniculum vulgare L. (Apiaceae) at Ayodhya Region, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during the flowering stage of the 2017-18 season at ANDUA&T, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, U.P., India. Honeybees that visit the Fennel plants lead to an increase in the number of seeds set and subsequently yield production. It was found that all three bee species, viz., Apis mellifera, A. indica, and A. dorsata, while foraging on fennel flowers, were found to be top workers. Apis dorsata start activity at 6:30 during flowering period, nectar collection at 06:30 hrs, with activities ceasing by 18:00 hrs and pollen collection start at 06:00 hrs, as long as other Apis sp. peak pollen collection for all occurred between 08:00–10:00 hrs., both activities earlier but ceased by 17:00 hrs; The result shows that yield of fennel per plant through bee pollination, self-pollination and open pollination are 20.39 g, 8.28 g and 13.96 g, respectively. Furthermore, the number of seeds per plant (1797.48 seeds, 768.00 seeds, and 1282.74 seeds) and test weight (8.79 g, 5.92 g, and 7,71g) in bee pollination, self-pollination, and open pollination. Thus, approaches to encourage honeybee pollination may help enhance seed yield in Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare (Mill.), and other cultivated species.