Bee pollination benefits for tropical fruit crops
Extract from Bulletin 4298: Honeybee pollination
The data in this report on the number of beehives required for
each hectare of crop are estimates based on experience of researchers
in Australia and overseas. The recommended numbers vary greatly
and are due to differences between variety requirements, localities
and the influence of local feral bee populations on pollination.
Therefore, the reader will often be presented with more than
one recommendation for a given number of hives per hectare.
Symbols used in the summaries
Select the name of a fruit crop to
go to information about it.
See also: Using Beetubes in pollination of orchard crops.
Banana (Musa spp.)
Nectar production:
Can be copious especially in tropical
climates.
Honey production:
Said to be dark and thick; 'Banana'
honey being sold at Coffs Harbour, NSW.
Review of bee pollination benefits:
Not known.
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Custard apple (sugar apple) (Annona x (Hybrids between A. cherimoya and A. squamosa) )
Nectar production:
A. cherimoya has no nectaries.
Review of bee pollination benefits:
-
10 per cent of yield can be attributed to pollination of honeybees.
-
Beetles are the most important pollinators.
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Durian (Durio zibethinus )
Nectar production:
Large nectar flows recorded in Singapore.
Review of bee pollination benefits:
Unknown.
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Feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana)
Nectar production:
Flowers are nectarless.
Review of bee pollination benefits:
-
Bird-pollinated, sucrose concentration in petals.
-
Insect pollination essential; honeybees known to visit.
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Guava (Psidium guajava, P. cattleianum (strawberry and cherry guava) )
Hives per hectare:
2 to 3.
Flowers:
The species are in the Myrtaceae family. The fragrant white flowers are bisexual and self-fertile. Anthers are numerous and produce a large number of pollen grains. Anthesis occurs about 6 am (Ref. 1). Flowering November/December in Western Australia.
Nectar production:
Moderate to high (on irrigated crops).
Pollen:
Pollen produced in copious amounts. Pollen loads on bees are large and white.
Honey:
Light yellow, thin and pleasant flavour.
Honey bee foraging:
Honey bees collect nectar and pollen from 6 am to 11 am. The peak activity is about 9 am (Ref. 1).
Review of bee pollination benefits:
-
Honey bees were the best pollinators and increases in fruit set were achieved, the quality of fruit was also improved (Ref. 1).
-
26 to 43 per cent of pollination was due to honeybees.
-
Honeybees are essential.
-
Bees visit flowers for nectar and pollen and although flowers are self-compatible, cross-pollination gives higher fruit yields.
Abstracts of scientific papers on guava pollination
- TITLE:
Plants for bees - Guava
AUTHOR: Lakshmi, K and Mohana Rao, G.
JOURNAL:Bee World 79(3): 135-13 (1998)7.
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Jackfruit (
Artocarpus heterophyllus )
Nectar production:
A sweet honey and burnt sugar fragrance.
Review of bee pollination benefits:
-
10 per cent of the yield can be pollinated by honeybees.
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Longan (Euphoria longana)
Nectar production:
High.
Review of bee pollination benefits:
-
90 per cent of the yield can be attributed to honeybees.
-
Fruit yield increased by 30 per cent (Thailand).
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Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica )
Review of bee pollination benefits:
Unknown. Most commercial varieties are self-fertile.
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Pawpaw (paw paw, papaya, papaw) 9Carica papaya)
One male tree per ten female trees.
Nectar production:
High. Nectar too deep in corolla for bees to reach. Male, female and hermaphrodite flowers.
Review of bee pollination benefits:
-
Wind-pollinated.
-
Pollinated by wind and insects such as bees and moths.
-
Honeybees reported to be primary pollinating agents of papaya (South
Africa).
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Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis, P. quadrangularis )
Flowering:
Most varieties are self-fertile.
Hives per hectare:
2 to 3.
Nectar production:
Reported to have good nectar flow.
Review of bee pollination benefits:
-
Insects are required, mainly carpenter bee, honeybee and hoverflies (in Hawaii, West Indies and Brazil).
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Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum, N. litchi )
Nectar production:
High. Large nectar flows reported in Singapore.
Review of bee pollination benefits:
- Honeybees doubled fruit production (Thailand).
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Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
Nectar production:
High.
Review of bee pollination benefits:
Known to benefit from pollination by honeybees.
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Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.)
Review of bee pollination benefits:
Not known. Bees are known to collect pollen from flowers in the early morning.
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Page reviewed: March 2006