1. Identification and Distribution of Cross-Pollinating Honey-Bees on Almonds
- Author
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Gerald M. Loper, Robbin W. Thorp, Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, and Dan Eisikowitch
- Subjects
education.field_of_study ,Pollen source ,Ecology ,Pollination ,Population ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Horticulture ,Pollinator ,Pollen ,Botany ,medicine ,Nectar ,Orchard ,education ,Fruit tree - Abstract
1. Pollen on stigmas and the bodies of honey-bees foraging on almond blossoms was identified in 1988 and 1989. The percentage of blossoms setting nuts also was measured with respect to a tree limb's adjacent pollen source. 2. Every honey-bee that we collected foraging on almond blossoms had selfpollen on its body and 90% or more had cross-pollen. In 1988, 60-92% of the foragers had non-almond pollen on their bodies, while in 1989 the percentages were 92-100%. 3. In 1988 there was significantly more selfand cross-pollen on foragers' bodies than non-almond pollen with the exception of 'Peerless' nectar collectors. However, in 1989 the percentages of crossand non-almond pollen were equivalent except for 'Price', and were significantly less than the percentages of self-pollen. 4. In 1988, 42-1-81-2% of the stigmas we examined had self-pollen, 36-8-68 7% had cross-pollen, and 43-7-94 0% had non-almond pollen. In 1989, 60 0-100 0% of the stigmas had self-pollen, 10-100% had cross-pollen, and 8O)0-100 0% had non-almond pollen. 5. The percentages of pollen types on stigmas did not differ significantly between limbs adjacent to trees of the same or different cultivars. In 1988 the percentages of selfand cross-pollen on stigmas were equivalent in all cultivars except 'NePlus' which had significantly more selfthan cross-pollen. In 1989 there was significantly more selfthan cross-pollen on stigmas of all cultivars except 'Price' which had equivalent amounts of both pollen types. In both years non-almond pollen occurred with equivalent or significantly higher frequencies than self-pollen. 6. Nut set on limbs adjacent to compatible pollen sources did not differ significantly from those within the same row adjacent to trees of the same cultivar (i.e. incompatible pollen sources). 7. The population of honey-bees capable of cross-pollination in almond orchards is apparently a majority of the overall honey-bee foraging population and is homogeneously distributed throughout the orchard.
- Published
- 1992
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