Bee pollinators and floral characteristics of calamondin (x Citrofortunella microcarpa (Bunge) Wijnands)

Abstract

Bees can help increase fruit and seed set of majority of economic and wild plants through pollination. One of the many flowering species visited by honey bees is calamondin (x Citrofortunella microcarpa (Bunge) Wijnands) because of its nectar and pollen. To determine the effect of honey bees on the pollination of calamondin, three flowering trees were caged to exclude bees and three were left open to allow pollination by them. Fruit set in uncaged plants was better, thus these plants yielded more fruits than the uncaged ones, an effect attributed to the presence of pollinators such as honey bees and stingless bees. Moreover, the occurrence of minimal fruit set in caged plants indicates that calamondin, being a hermaphrodite, is capable of self-pollination. In large calamondin farms, the existing wild bees may not be sufficient to pollinate the flowers, hence, hived colonies should be ihtroduced to ensure better cross-pollination and fruit set and thus, higher yield.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Agricultural Scientist

ISSN

317454

Page

131-133+104

Document Type

Article

Subject

Bee pollination, Calamondin, Pollen

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