Articles
Effect of bumblebee pollination on fruit quality in an extra-early season nectarine orchard
Article number
1457_61
Pages
491 – 498
Language
English
Abstract
Fruit size is an important parameter influencing fruit quality in peach and nectarine.
Fruit thinning is often employed for obtaining proper commercial fruit size, although it does not work adequately in early-maturing cultivars due to their short fruit growth period.
Peach (Prunus persica, L., Batsch) is considered a self-compatible species that does not require pollinizers to set fruit.
However, cross-pollination improves fruit size in different species due to increased seed size and sink strength.
Insect pollinators can facilitate cross-pollination in peach orchards designed with different cultivars growing nearby, thus potentially improving fruit quality.
Consequently, this study aimed to assess the potential benefits of bumblebee pollination in nectarine orchards designed with blocks of different cultivars.
To do so, during flowering time, we installed a bumblebee hive in a block of ‘Flariba’ nectarine trees in the area adjacent to a different cultivar.
Fruit quality parameters, including weight, size, and firmness, were compared in tree rows at increased distances from the bumblebee hive and the pollinizer cultivar.
Additionally, we counted the number of insect visits during flowering, the pollen adhesion in the stigma, and the fertilization level in sampled flowers of these tree rows.
Our results showed a significant effect of the distance from the bumblebee hive on fruit weight and diameter, with the largest fruits obtained from trees closer to the hive.
It was also found that a higher bumblebee visitation rate in trees near the hive with flowers showed higher pollen adhesion.
Therefore, we conclude that the introduction of bumblebee hives, while not mandatory for peach production, can have a beneficial impact on fruit quality in nectarine orchards.
Fruit thinning is often employed for obtaining proper commercial fruit size, although it does not work adequately in early-maturing cultivars due to their short fruit growth period.
Peach (Prunus persica, L., Batsch) is considered a self-compatible species that does not require pollinizers to set fruit.
However, cross-pollination improves fruit size in different species due to increased seed size and sink strength.
Insect pollinators can facilitate cross-pollination in peach orchards designed with different cultivars growing nearby, thus potentially improving fruit quality.
Consequently, this study aimed to assess the potential benefits of bumblebee pollination in nectarine orchards designed with blocks of different cultivars.
To do so, during flowering time, we installed a bumblebee hive in a block of ‘Flariba’ nectarine trees in the area adjacent to a different cultivar.
Fruit quality parameters, including weight, size, and firmness, were compared in tree rows at increased distances from the bumblebee hive and the pollinizer cultivar.
Additionally, we counted the number of insect visits during flowering, the pollen adhesion in the stigma, and the fertilization level in sampled flowers of these tree rows.
Our results showed a significant effect of the distance from the bumblebee hive on fruit weight and diameter, with the largest fruits obtained from trees closer to the hive.
It was also found that a higher bumblebee visitation rate in trees near the hive with flowers showed higher pollen adhesion.
Therefore, we conclude that the introduction of bumblebee hives, while not mandatory for peach production, can have a beneficial impact on fruit quality in nectarine orchards.
Publication
Authors
V. Pinillos, M. Martínez, J. Cuevas
Keywords
Prunus persica, L., Batsch, bumblebee, fruit size, pollinator activity, pollen adhesion
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