Foraging behaviour of honeybees (Apis spp.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in hybrid seed production of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea)

ANIRUDDHA MAITY; S K CHAKRABARTY; J B YADAV

doi:10.56093/ijas.v84i11.44646

Authors

ANIRUDDHA MAITY Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh 284 003 India
S K CHAKRABARTY Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012
J B YADAV Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v84i11.44646

Keywords:

Date of sowing, Honeybee activity, Indian mustard, Row ratio, Weather condition

Abstract

Pollination of entomophilous crops by honeybees is considered as one of the effective and inexpensive method for improving the crop yield and its quality. In most of the crops, effective pollination is prerequisite for fruitful fertilisation. Hence, we investigated the differential foraging activity of honeybees in relation to aspects of crop management including sowing time and parental row ratio in the hybrid seed production of the first Indian mustard hybrid NRCHB Apis spp. (half of which being Apis dorsata) was the dominant pollinators in our study. The pollinator abundance was maximum in the forenoon in male line (19.1) and in the afternoon in female line (13.9). Pollen collectors (8.7) outnumbered the nectar collectors (7.2) in male line and the reverse in female line. Pollinator abundance decreased in rows distantly positioned from the male parent row. Air temperature was positively correlated (r = 0.631) and relative humidity negatively correlated (r = –0.736) with honeybee foraging. Warmer weather conditions during flowering period showed higher number of honeybee visiting the hybrid seed production plots. This study would help the seed producers to standardise the planting geometry and date of sowing to promote maximum pollinator abundance at peak flowering period resulting in higher hybrid seed yield.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Al-Qarni A S. 2006. Tolerance of summer temperature in imported and indigenous honeybee Apis mellifera L. races in central Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 13: 123–7.

Atwal A S. 2001. The World of the Honey Bee. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana.

Blazyte-Cereskiene L, Vaitkeviciene G, Venskutonyte S and Buda V. 2010. Honey bee foraging in spring oilseed rape crops under high ambient temperature conditions. Zemdirbyste-Agriculture 97: 61–70.

Cresswell J E. 1999. The influence of nectar and pollen availability on pollen transfer by individual flowers of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus) when pollinated by bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius). Journal of Ecology 87: 670–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2745.1999.00385.x

DeGrandi-Hoffman, G and Watkins, J C. 2000. The foraging activity of honey bee Apis mellifera and non-Apis bees on hybrid sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) and its influence on cross pollination and seed set. Journal of Apicultural Research 39 (1-2): 37–45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2000.11101019

Eckert J E. 1933. The flight range of the honeybee. Journal of Agricultural Research 47: 257–85.

Free J B and Williams I H. 1983. Foraging behaviour of honeybees and bumble bees on Brussels sprout grown to produce hybrid seed. Journal of Apicultural Research 22: 94–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.1983.11100566

Free J B. 1993. Insect Pollination of Crops, 2nd Edn, p 684. Academic Press, London.

Human H, Nicolson S W and Dietemann V. 2006. Do honeybees, Apis mellifera scutellata, regulate humidity in their nest? Naturwissenschaften 93: 397–401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-006-0117-y

Joshi N C and Joshi P C. 2010. Foraging Behaviour of Apis spp. on apple flowers in a subtropical environment. New York Science Journal 3(3): 71–6.

Kraai A. 1962. How long do honey-bees carry germinable pollen on them? Euphytica 11: 53–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044805

Kunin W E. 1997. Population size and density effects in pollinator foraging and plant reproductive success in experimental arrays of Brassica kaber. Journal of Ecology 85: 225–34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2960653

Maity A, Chakrabarty S K and Yadav J B. 2012a. Standardisation of hybrid seed production technology of first Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) hybrid NRCHB 506. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 82:753–8.

Maity A, Chakrabarty S K and Yadav J B. 2012b. Standardisation of planting ratio of parental lines for seed production of mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss.) hybrid NRCHB506. Bioinfolet 9(3): 299–302.

Mohapatra L N, Sontakke, B K and Ranasingh, N. 2003. Enhancement of crop production through bee pollination. Orissa Review. p: 44–7.

Mohr N A and Jay S C. 1988. Nectar and pollen collecting behaviour of honeybees on canola (Brassica campestris L. and Brassica napus L.). Journal of Apiculture Research 27: 131– 6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.1988.11100792

Michener C D. 1974. The Social behaviour of Bees: A Comparative Study, p 404. The Belknap Press of Harward University, Cambridge.

Nagaraja N. 2000. Studies on annual foraging cycle of Apis mellifera. Indian Bee Journal 62:11–7.

Nagaraja N and Rajagobal D. 1999. Colony establishment, nesting and foraging activity of little bee, Apis florea (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Journal of Entomological Research 23: 331–8.

Nieuwhof M. 1963. Pollination and contamination of Brassica oleracea L. Euphytica 12:17–26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00033588

Pierre J. 2001. The role of honeybees (Apis mellifera) and other insect pollinators in gene flow between oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum). Acta Horticulturae 561: 47–51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.561.6

Priti and Sihag R C. 1998. Diversity, visitation frequency, foraging behaviour and pollinating efficiency of different insect pollinators visiting carrot, Dacus carota L.var.Hc-1 blooms. Indian Bee Journal 60:1–8.

Ramsay G, Thompson C E, Neilson, S and Mackay G R. 1999. Honeybees as vectors of GM oilseed rape pollen. Challenges and risks of genetically engineered organisms. Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development 72: 209–14.

Reddy C C. 1980. Observation on the annual cycle of foraging and brood rearing by Apis cerana indica colonies. Journal of Apicultural Research 19:17–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.1980.11099993

Rieger M A, Lamond M, Preston C, Powles S B and Roush R. 2002. Pollen-mediated movement of herbicide resistance between commercial canola fields. Science 296: 2 386–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1071682

SAS institute 2004. The SAS System Version 9.1.3. SAS Institute, Cary, NC.

Selvakumar P, Sinha, S N, Pandita, V K and Srivastava R M. 1996. Foraging behaviour of honeybee on parental lines of hybrid cauliflower Pusa Hybrid-2. Standing Commission of Pollination and Bee Flora. Apiacta Journal: 228.

Sihag R C. 1984. The role of temperature on in evolution of bee- plant mutualism. Indian Bee Journal 46: 28–32.

Sihag R C and Abrol D P. 1986. Correlation and path analysis of environmental factors influencing flight activity of Apis florea F. Journal of Agricultural Research 25: 202–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.1986.11100718

Sihag R C and Khatkar S. 1999. Effect of different environmental factors on the foraging activity of three honeybee species visiting eight cultivars of oilseeds. Annals of Agri-Bio Research 4:257–61.

Sinha S N and Chakrabarti A K. 1980. Bee pollination And its impact on cauliflower seed production. (In) Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Apiculture in Tropical Climates, New Delhi, February 29–March 4.

Singh J, Agarwal O P and Mishra R C. 2006. Foraging rates of different Apis species visiting parental lines of Brassica napus L. Zoos’ print journal 21(4):2 226–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.1315.2226-7

Singh G, Kashyap R K and Dahiya B S. 2000. Hybrid seed production in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.): Abundance and diurnal rythms of insect visitors on restorer and male sterile lines. Seed Science and Technology 28: 715–22.

Skinner J A. 1987. Abuandance and spacial distribution of bees visiting male sterile and male fertile sunflower cultivars in California. Environmental Entomology 16: 922–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/16.4.922

Thompson C E, Squire G, Mackay G R, Bradshaw J E, Crawford J and Ramsay, G. 1999. Regional patterns of gene flow and its consequence for GM oilseed rape. (In) Gene Flow and Agriculture: Relevance for Transgenic Crops. BCPC Symposium proceedings No. 72. Lutman P J W (Ed.). BCPC, London, pp. 95–100.

Woyke H. 1989. Honeybee foraging on the flowers of cauliflower F1 cultivar components. Proceedings of the XXXI Congress on Apiculture, Warsaw, Poland, 19-25 August, pp. 360–4.

Yadav R N. 2002. ‘Pollination studies under different environments and population geometry in sunflower hybrid seed production.’ Ph D thesis, IARI, New Delhi.