Abstract
Prior to commencement of this study, a survey to identify common bees pollinating C. Arabica in Kenya was done. Patellapis zonalictus , Apis mellifera and Lasioglossum spp. were identified as the common pollinators of C. arabica flowers. Pollination efficiency was analyzed indirectly by assessing pollen deposition on stigmas. Flowers were bagged at bud stage. When the pollinator exclusion bags were removed, the virgin flowers were allowed a single pollinator visit and then the stigmas crushed on a microscope slide and stained using fuchsin dye. The pollen grains deposited on the stigma were counted under a dissecting microscope. The numbers of non coffee pollen grains were also counted to assess pollen purity. Results indicated that P. zonalictus and Lasioglossum spp. were more efficient pollinators of C. Arabica than A. mellifera . They deposited significantly higher amounts of C. Arabica pollen grains. The pollen grains also had a significantly higher purity ratio when compared with the pollen grains deposited by Apis mellifera (p<0.001).
Highlights
Wild bees and other insects can pollinate many crops but their value for crop pollination has been overlooked for centuries (Klein et al, 2008, 2003a)
Lasioglossum spp. and Patellapis (Zonalictus spp.) showed no significant difference (p>0.001) in pollen loads deposited on stigma and pollen purity
This study indicates that Lasioglossum spp. and Patellapis zonalictus were more efficient in pollen transfer than A. mellifera
Summary
Wild bees and other insects can pollinate many crops but their value for crop pollination has been overlooked for centuries (Klein et al, 2008, 2003a). It is essential to determine the importance of a pollinator species to the plant under investigation since most organisms foraging on plants may not be necessarily the most important pollinators and may not significantly benefit the plant (Spears Jr., 1983). Flowers must produce their pollen and nectar at different times of the day or seasons for the forager to become continuously active. The flowers must balance the amount of sugar and water in the nectar, so that on each foraging visit, the bee gets the required energy and water while foraging (Roubik, 2002a, b; Raju and Rao, 2008). A pollinator must visit a flower in such a way and within such a period, that viable pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma of the same or a different flower (Kevan, 1999)
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