Effect of Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Visits on the Pollination Rate of Strawberries

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of the number of visits by the honey bee ( Apis mellifera L.) on the pollination rate of strawberry ( Fragarla × ananassa , Duch.) flowers. Pollination rate is defined as the number of fertilized achenes divided by the total number of achenes per berry. ‘Veestar’ cultivar plants were caged before flowering began and cages were opened to observe bee visits. The cumulative effect of the number and length of visits to these flower significantly increased the pollination rate. Four visits with a total of approximately 40 s of foraging were required for adequate pollination. In the absence of pollinators, primary flowers had lower pollination rates than secondary and tertiary flowers. Pollen transported by bees is thus particularly important for optimal development of these first berries harvested for market.