The Foraging Activity and Pollination Services of Three Stingless Bee Species to Enhance Fruit Quality and Quantity of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus L.)

Abstract

Insect pollination has been reported to have a better yield quality and quantity than artificial pollination. Wild bees, including stingless bees contribute to effective and efficient pollination on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.: Malvaceae). However, previously no report about okra pollination by native Indonesian stingless bees, which can be potential as pollinators. Therefore, this research aims to compare foraging activities of three species of stingless bees (Heterotrigona itama, Tetragonula laeviceps, and T. clypearis) on okra plants and fruits quality and quantity parameters among four pollination treatments (three stingless bee species and without pollinator). Four cages with 50 okra plants were used for pollination treatments. The foraging observation of different stingless bee species on okra was conducted in the cages, and the okra yield from each treatment was compared. Our results showed the foraging activities of three stingless bee species were higher in the morning than those in the afternoon. In the morning, the number of visits of T. clypearis and T. laeviceps were negatively correlated with visit duration. The current study also showed that size and weight of pod, the number of seeds, and the percentage of fruit set of okra were enhanced by pollination of three stingless bee species. Unfortunately, the pollination of stingless bee species did not affect the seed germination and flavonoid content of fruits. The native of Indonesian stingless bees are good pollinators to improve pod quality and quantity.