IMPACT OF BUMBLEBEE POLLINATION ON STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION UNDER PROTECTED CONDITIONS

Abstract

Bumblebees are splendid pollinators of various crop plants; they are known to improve fruit productivity by enhancing its biophysical and biochemical properties. In the present investigation, the impact of bumblebee (Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith) pollination was recorded in comparison to honey bee pollination, open pollination and control (crop devoid of pollinators) in strawberry grown under caged conditions in Nauni, Himachal Pradesh. Bumblebee pollination resulted in higher fruit set (87.16%), longer fruits (39.88 mm/ fruits), higher fruit breadth (30.94 mm/fruit), heavier berries (14.26 g/ fruit) and higher fruit yield per plant (402.26 g/ plant) in strawberry cv. Sweet Charlie which accounted for an increase of 10.38 and 7.87, 25.64 and 17.74, 16.22 and 13.41, 35.29 and 31.18 and 33.11 and 20.74%, respectively over control and open pollination. Bumblebee pollination was observed superior to control, open/ natural pollination and was equally good (at par) to honey bee pollination, in terms of all production parameters. These results signified the role of bumblebee pollination in enhancement of the quality and quantity of strawberries grown under caged conditions.