Abstract
Low fruit set, despite normally-developed flowers, is often a significant contributor to poor yield of the self-fertile sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) cultivar ‘Stevnsbaer’ in Denmark. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of insect, and particularly, bee pollination on the fruit set of this cultivar, in order to provide orchard management information for both Danish ‘Stevnsbaer’ growers and beekeepers. Visits to cherry flowers by honey bees (Apis mellifera), Bombus species and solitary bees, were recorded during the flowering of ‘Stevnsbaer’ in five separate Danish orchards. The results indicate that there is a significantly higher fruit set on open pollinated branches when compared to caged branches, where bees and other pollinating insects where excluded. The results were qualitatively consistent over three different seasons (2007, 2009 and 2010). A period of prolonged cold, humid weather before and during early flowering probably reduced fruit set significantly in 2010 compared to 2009. Regarding the apparent benefits of bee pollination on fruit set and subsequent implications for yield, we recommend placing honeybees in ‘Stevnsbaer’ orchards during flowering to sustain commercially viable production. Another valuable management strategy would be to improve foraging and nesting conditions to support both honey and wild bees in and around the orchards.
Highlights
The numbers of nearby wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apidoidea) and Apis mellifera hives are important, determining factors of the level of bee pollination available as a free service to cultivated crops
The results indicate that there is a significantly higher fruit set on open pollinated branches when compared to caged branches, where bees and other pollinating insects where excluded
On a nation-wide level, A. mellifera is unlikely to compensate for reduced wild bee pollination, even on crops where they are valuable and highly effective pollinators
Summary
The numbers of nearby wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apidoidea) and Apis mellifera hives are important, determining factors of the level of bee pollination available as a free service to cultivated crops. The growing evidence for the global loss of bee diversity and decline of numbers (Potts et al 2010) is of concern. On a nation-wide level, A. mellifera is unlikely to compensate for reduced wild bee pollination, even on crops where they are valuable and highly effective pollinators. It becomes increasingly necessary to document the likely effect of bee pollination on specific, cultivated crops to aid decision-making concerning changing management practices that will support yield, such as introducing bees during flowering
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