Properties of peach varieties influencing bee pollination
1991
Benedek, P. | Nyeki, J. | Szabo, Z. (Noveny -es talajvedelmi Szolg (Hungary))
Measurements were carried out on 44 peach varieties in the canning, fresh and nectarine variety groups at two Hungarian growing sites in order to study pollination conditions in peach. The measurements covered characteristic flower data (diameter, number of stamina, position of the pistil, nectar content, sugar content of the nectar, size of anthers and pollen grains, quantity of pollen, etc.), characteristic data on bee movements, weather changes and their effects on bee movements. With respect to the data recorded, there were no substantial differences between the variety groups, though a few deviations were noted: the majority of varieties grown for fresh consumption had bell-shaped flowers, while the rose type was slightly more common for nectarines. The number and position of the stamina showed considerable variation: in bell-shaped flowers the erect type was more frequent, while the prostrate type dominated in rose-type flowers, thus inhibiting the activities of bees collecting nectar from the side not carrying out pollination. The morphological traits of the flowers varied substantially from year to year even within the variety, as did the nectar and pollen production. Bee visits were extremely intensive during peach flowering, with 1-30 visits a day being recorded per flower. For each variety a higher degree of fertilisation was recorded through open pollination than through self-pollination without the assistance of bees.
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