Bumblebee Foraging Dynamics and Pollination Outcomes for Cherry Tomato and Pear Varieties in Northern China.

Xunbing Huang, Qianwen Zhang, Umer Ayyaz Aslam Sheikh, Yueyue Wang, Li Zheng
Author Information
  1. Xunbing Huang: College of Resources and Environment, College of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China.
  2. Qianwen Zhang: College of Resources and Environment, College of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China.
  3. Umer Ayyaz Aslam Sheikh: Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot 12350, Pakistan. ORCID
  4. Yueyue Wang: College of Resources and Environment, College of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China.
  5. Li Zheng: College of Resources and Environment, College of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China.

Abstract

Bumblebees () have strong environmental adaptability and high pollen transfer efficiency, making them well-suited pollinators of economic crops. However, bumblebee pollination is still not widely applied in northern China due to the lack of data on foraging behavior and pollination effects. We conducted a three-year experiment involving cherry tomatoes ( L.) and pears ( spp.) treated with bumblebee pollination to evaluate the foraging behavior and pollination effects on these two crops. Results showed that had enhanced foraging activities as daytime temperatures rose from 18 °C to 26 °C, as indicated by the increased number of bees leaving the hive and returning bees carrying pollen in greenhouses in winter. There were two peaks in the foraging activity of bumblebees in pear orchards in early spring, which was closely related to the temperature change in the daytime. Undoubtedly, cherry tomatoes treated with had higher fruit setting rate, weight, seed number, and fruit yields compared to those with hormone 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid treatments, as well as a lower rate of deformed fruits. pollination can significantly increase the fruit setting rate and fruit yield of pears, compared with open pollination, and can fully achieve the effect of hand pollination. pollination can improve cultivation efficiency, increase yield, and produce more economic benefits. Moreover, it can also contribute to reducing hormone residues and ensure the safety of agricultural products. We recommend its application to cherry tomatoes in greenhouses in winter and potential application to pears in orchards in early spring in northern China. However, the risk to local bumblebee species of introducing commercially available bumblebees into orchards should be considered and evaluated in future research. This study provides both empirical support and a theoretical basis for the selection of bumblebees as pollinators in the production of economically important crops and the improvement of crop cultivation management in northern China.

Keywords

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