In Search of the Best Native Pollinators for Bitter Gourd (Momorclicu charcintia L.) Pollination in Multan, Pakistan.

In order to assess the pollinator community and the best native pollinators for bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L., Cucurbitaceae), an experiment was performed at the Vegetable Research Station in Multan. Pakistan. We measured the abundance of pollinators, their diurnal and seasonal dynamics along with their floral visitation rates and single-visit efficacy in terms of reproductive success. The pollinator community was composed of 15 insect species in 3 orders and 10 families. Bees were the most dominant (435 individuals) floral visitors followed by butterflies (345 individuals) and flies (248 individuals) while moths and wasps were observed occasionally. Apis florea, Parnara guttata and A. dorsata were the most abundant pollinators. A. florea and A. dorsata also exhibited the highest visitation rates and frequencies. Five major pollinators were tested for their single-visit efficacy, showing that A. dorsata was the most effective pollinator, along with A. florea and Eristalinus laetus. Conserving and enhancing these pollinators may boost M. charantia production in Pakistan [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]