Honey bee pollination of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. Convulvulaceae.
1995
Cervancia C.R. | Forbes M.F. | Sta Cruz M.T.G.
Crossing blocks consisting of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) L. clones selected for weevil (Cylas formicarius elegantulus) resistance were established at the International Potato Center Experimental Station at Mariano Marcos State University, Batac, Ilocos Norte [Philippines]. Three pollination methods namely, bee, open and close pollination, were used to compare the fruit setting and seed production in sweet potatoes. Percentage fruit set in six out of seven sweet potato clones in honey bee pollination was significantly higher than those in open and close pollination methods. Consequently, more seeds were obtained from bee pollination. However, there were no significant differences in the number of seeds per pod and germination in all treatments. Native pollinators were not abundant in the study site. The dry environment and scarce vegetation in Batac were not favorable to the establishment of bee colonies. Foraging behaviour of the bees from the introduced colonies were observed.
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