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Optimizing pear orchard productivity through managed Osmia bicornis L.: A study on pollination efficiency and its role in geitonogamy
AbstractMost pear cultivars require cross‐pollination to enhance yields in both self‐fertile and partially self‐fertile cultivars. Due to the deficit of wild bees and the limited pollination efficiency of honey bees, alternative commercial pollinators should be considered. This study examined the pollination efficiency of the managed bee Osmia bicornis in a pear orchard containing three cultivars: ‘Conference’, ‘Deyonne du Comice’, and ‘Alexander Lucas’. The introduction of O. bicornis into the pear orchard proved effective, with this species comprising up to one‐fifth of the total pollinator population when nesting sites were located within 60 m of the trees. The management of O. bicornis improved fruit set in self‐sterile cultivars but did not affect parthenocarpic cultivars. The higher number of fruits per inflorescence, as well as greater fruit weight and diameter, when flowers were pollinated by red mason bees rather than self‐pollination, predict an improvement in the total yield. compared to self‐pollination. The pollen bag method employed in the study highlighted the vital role of O. bicornis in geitonogamy in pears. The findings demonstrate that the use of these managed bees can enhance yields in single‐cultivar orchards, including self‐pollinating and parthenocarpic cultivars.
Effect of pollination by the Osmia bicornis (syn. O. rufa) bee on fruit set, seed set and yield in three apple cultivars
Abstract Our study tested the pollination effectiveness of the megachilid bee Osmia bicornis L. (syn. Osmia rufa) on three apple cultivars (cv.): Lobo, Piros and Champion. The following pollination treatments were compared for each cultivar: insect pollination - caged trees with Osmia bicornis (syn. Osmia rufa) bees; open pollination - uncaged trees; self-pollination - caged trees without bees. Pollination success was measured based on the percentage of fruit set, the fruit yield per tree (measured as number of fruits and total fruit weight) and the number of seeds per fruit. Generally, there was a higher percentage of initial fruit-set and fruits at harvest on open-pollinated trees than on caged trees without bees, with an intermediate value recorded for caged trees pollinated by O. bicornis (syn. O. rufa). However, the fruit set on trees pollinated by O. bicornis (syn. O. rufa) was high and ranged from 49 to 69%, depending on the cultivar. The cv. Lobo trees pollinated by O. bicornis (syn. O. rufa) and open-pollinated trees produced higher fruit yields than without bees. Furthermore, the number of seeds per fruit was higher. Fruit yield and the number of seeds per fruit were higher for trees pollinated by O. bicornis (syn. O. rufa) than for caged trees without insects but lower than for open pollination trees of cv. Piros and cv. Lobo.