Precision management of pollination services to blueberry crops

AbstractWhile the cultivated area of pollinator-dependent crops is increasing, pollinator availability is decreasing, leading to problems in many agroecosystems. For this reason, pollinator-dependent crop growers often rent beehives to support their pollination requirements to sustain fruit productivity. However, the efficiency of those pollination systems has not been extensively studied. Here, we compared the effect of “precision” pollination (i.e., application of pesticides coordinated with growers, audit of hives, dietary supplementation and individual distribution of hives) with conventional practices (i.e., pesticides applications without coordination with growers and no audit of hives, low maintenance of hives and hives distributed in large groups) on the mean level of pollination and fruit production and quality in blueberry crops. In nine blueberry fields, we measured bee visitation rate to flowers, fruit set, fruit firmness and fruit weight. On average, precision-pollinated plots had 70% more bee visits to flowers and produced 13% more fruits that were 12% heavier and 12% firmer than those obtained through conventional practices. These results showed that pollination efficiency could be improved if key management related to bee strength, distribution and health care are taken into account. Due to these results, we encourage growers and beekeepers to include precision pollination practices to both increase the productivity of blueberry fields and the wellbeing of honey bees within agroecosystems.

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Influence of vineyard peach selections on vigour and initial yield in peach and nectarine

Genetika ◽

10.2298/gensr1301011z ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 11-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gordan Zec ◽

Milica Fotiric-Aksic ◽

Slavica Colic ◽

Todor Vulic ◽

Dragan Nikolic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Principal Component Analysis ◽

Analysis Of Variance ◽

Geographic Origin ◽

Principal Component ◽

Fruit Trees ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Open Pollination ◽

Fruit Productivity ◽

F1 Generation

Seedlings (progenies) of eight selected vineyard peach genotypes obtained by self and open pollination were examined in this study during three consecutive years. Two progenies from unselected vineyard peach genotypes with different geographic origin were used as a standard. Peach cv. Autumn Glo and nectarine cv. Stark Red Gold were grafted on F1 generation of eight vineyard peach selections and two standard progenies. Analysis of variance indicated statistically significant differences in vigour and fruit productivity between fruit trees grafted on different progenies of vineyard peach selections. A high correlation was found between rootstock vigour and fruit production of grafted cultivars. In addition, the principal component analysis made it possible to establish similar groups of rootstocks, depending on its influence to vigour, productivity and indexes of efficiency of grafted peach and nectarine cultivar. The most promising rootstocks for those two cultivars were PSK and 7S because grafted AG and SRG have high fruit weight, initial yields and very satisfactory rootstock, scion and canopy efficiency.

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Orchestrated Flowering and Interspecific Facilitation: Key Factors in the Maintenance of the Main Pollinator of Coexisting Threatened Species of Andean Wax Palms (Ceroxylon spp.)

Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden ◽

10.3417/2020590 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 105 (3) ◽

pp. 281-299

Author(s):

Javier Carreño-Barrera ◽

Luis Alberto Núñez-Avellaneda ◽

Maria José Sanín ◽

Artur Campos D. Maia

Keyword(s):

Conservation Status ◽

Population Decline ◽

Floral Biology ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Biological Data ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Insect Species ◽

Individual Species ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Flower Visiting

Solitary, dioecious, and mostly endemic to Andean cloud forests, wax palms (Ceroxylon Bonpl. ex DC. spp.) are currently under worrisome conservation status. The establishment of management plans for their dwindling populations rely on detailed biological data, including their reproductive ecology. As in the case of numerous other Neotropical palm taxa, small beetles are assumed to be selective pollinators of wax palms, but their identity and relevance in successful fruit yield were unknown. During three consecutive reproductive seasons we collected data on population phenology and reproductive and floral biology of three syntopic species of wax palms native to the Colombian Andes. We also determined the composition of the associated flower-visiting entomofauna, quantifying the extent of the role of individual species as effective pollinators through standardized value indexes that take into consideration abundance, constancy, and pollen transport efficiency. The studied populations of C. parvifrons (Engel) H. Wendl., C. ventricosum Burret, and C. vogelianum (Engel) H. Wendl. exhibit seasonal reproductive cycles with marked temporal patterns of flower and fruit production. The composition of the associated flower-visiting entomofauna, comprised by ca. 50 morphotypes, was constant across flowering seasons and differed only marginally among species. Nonetheless, a fraction of the insect species associated with pistillate inflorescences actually carried pollen, and calculated pollinator importance indexes demonstrated that one insect species alone, Mystrops rotundula Sharp, accounted for 94%–99% of the effective pollination services for all three species of wax palms. The sequential asynchronous flowering of C. parvifrons, C. ventricosum, and C. vogelianum provides an abundant and constant supply of pollen, pivotal for the maintenance of large populations of their shared pollinators, a cooperative strategy proven effective by high fruit yield rates (up to 79%). Reproductive success might be compromised for all species by the population decline of one of them, as it would tamper with the temporal orchestration of pollen offer.

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Hydrophobic Particle Films Improve Tree Fruit Productivity

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.548a ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 548a-548 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D.M. Glenn ◽

G. Puterka ◽

T. Baugher ◽

T. Unruh ◽

S. Drake

Keyword(s):

West Virginia ◽

Production Systems ◽

Fruit Size ◽

The United States ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Red Color ◽

Tree Fruit ◽

Fruit Productivity ◽

Leaf Level ◽

Hydrophobic Particle

Hydrophobic particle film technology (HPF) is a developing pest control system for tree fruit production systems. Studies were established in Chile, and Washington, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia in the United States, to evaluate the effect of HPF technology on tree fruit yield and quality. Studies in Chile, Washington, and West Virginia demonstrated increased photosynthetic rate at the leaf level. Yield was increased in peaches (Chile) and apples (West Virginia), and fruit size was increased in apples (Washington and Pennsylvania). Increased red color in apple was demonstrated at all sites with reduced russetting and `Stayman' cracking in Pennsylvania. HPF technology appears to be an effective tool in reducing water and heat stress in tree fruit resulting in increased fruit quality.

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Morphological and Biochemical Diversity in Fruits of Unsprayed Rosa canina and Rosa dumalis Ecotypes Found in Different Agroecological Conditions

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13148060 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 8060

Author(s):

Mehmet Ramazan Bozhuyuk ◽

Sezai Ercisli ◽

Neva Karatas ◽

Halina Ekiert ◽

Hosam O. Elansary ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Total Phenolic ◽

Soluble Solid Content ◽

Anthocyanin Content ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Important Species ◽

Total Anthocyanin ◽

Rosa Canina

The Rosa is one of the most diverse genera in the plant kingdom and, in particular, its fruits have been used for multiple purposes in different parts of the world for centuries. Within the genus, Rosa canina and Rosa dumalis are, economically, the most important species and dominate Rosa fruit production. In this study, some important fruit and shrub traits of ten Rosa canina and ten Rosa dumalis ecotypes collected from rural areas of Kars province, located in the east Anatolia region of Turkey were investigated. We found significant differences among ecotypes in most of the morphological and biochemical traits. The ecotypes were found between 1446–2210 m altitude. Fruit weight and fruit flesh ratio ranged from 2.95 g to 4.72 g and 62.55% to 74.42%, respectively. SSC (Soluble Solid Content), Vitamin C, total phenolic, total flavonoid, total carotenoid, and total anthocyanin content of the ecotypes ranged from 16.9–22.7%, 430–690 mg per 100 g FW (fresh weight), 390–532 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g FW, 0.88–2.04 mg per g FW, 6.83–15.17 mg per g FW and 3.62–7.81 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent per kg, respectively. Antioxidant activity was determined to be between 19.7–34.7 mg ascorbic acid equivalent per g fresh weight. Rosa ecotypes contained chlorogenic acid and rutin the most as phenolic compound. Our results indicated great diversity within both R. canina and R. dumalis fruits.

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Reproductive success of wind, generalist, and specialist pollinated plant species following wildfire in desert landscapes

International Journal of Wildland Fire ◽

10.1071/wf16222 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (12) ◽

pp. 1030 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew H. Lybbert ◽

Justin Taylor ◽

Alysa DeFranco ◽

Samuel B. St Clair

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Success ◽

Plant Species ◽

Mojave Desert ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Native Plant ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Generalist Species ◽

Plant Reproductive Success ◽

Show Evidence ◽

Specialist Species

Wildfire can drastically affect plant sexual reproductive success in plant–pollinator systems. We assessed plant reproductive success of wind, generalist and specialist pollinated plant species along paired unburned, burned-edge and burned-interior locations of large wildfires in the Mojave Desert. Flower production of wind and generalist pollinated plants was greater in burned landscapes than adjacent unburned areas, whereas specialist species responses were more neutral. Fruit production of generalist species was greater in burned landscapes than in unburned areas, whereas fruit production of wind- and specialist-pollinated species showed no difference in burned and unburned landscapes. Plants surviving in wildfire-disturbed landscapes did not show evidence of pollination failure, as measured by fruit set and seed:ovule ratios. Generalist- and specialist-plant species established in the interior of burned landscapes showed no difference in fruit production than plants established on burned edges suggesting that pollination services are conserved with increasing distance from fire boundaries in burned desert landscapes. Stimulation of plant reproduction in burned environments due to competition release may contribute to the maintenance of pollinator services and re-establishment of the native plant community in post-fire desert environments.

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STUDIES ON THE VARIABILITY OF THE PRODUCTIVITY COMPONENTS IN A COLLECTION OF HOT PEPPER LANDRACES (CAPSICUM ANUUM VAR. MICROCARPUM)

Current Trends in Natural Sciences ◽

10.47068/ctns.2021.v10i19.027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (19) ◽

pp. 201-208

Author(s):

Emilian Madoşă ◽

Lavinia Sasu ◽

Sorin Ciulca ◽

Constantin Avădanei ◽

Adriana Ciulca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Plant Production ◽

Average Weight ◽

Hot Pepper ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Hot Peppers ◽

Biometric Measurements ◽

Western Romania

The aim of the research was to evaluate the variability value of the main characters that contribute to the achievement of plant production to a collection of hot pepper genotypes. The biological material was composed of 17 landraces of hot peppers collected from western Romania. The study was conducted for two years, with biometric measurements on the morphological characteristics of fruit production on the plant. Intra-population variability was assessed (mean, standard deviation of mean and coefficient of variability) and differences between populations for these characters. The results show that the variability within the collection is high. Within populations, fruit sizes (length, diameter) are uniform, but the number of fruits and their weight per plant show greater variability. Within the collection, variations in morphological characteristics are large, especially for fruit length, fruit weight, number and weight of fruit per plant. Among the landraces studied, some may be recommended for breeding programs, as parents or as material for the application of selection: for long fruits (Juliţa, Aldeşti I and Satchinez I), for short fruits (Satchinez III), but also the landraces Rieni III (17.07 g average weight of the fruit), Temerești II (89.82 fruits per plant), Aldești I (931.17 g fruits per plant).

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Yield Performance of Six Lychee Cultivars Grown at Two Locations in Puerto Rico

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech03488-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 748-753

Author(s):

Ricardo Goenaga ◽

David Jenkins ◽

Angel Marrero

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Ethnic Diversity ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

University Of Puerto Rico ◽

Yield Performance ◽

Agricultural Experiment ◽

Marketable Fruit ◽

The University ◽

Lower Production

The globalization of the economy, increased ethnic diversity, and a greater demand for healthy and more diverse food production has increased the demand for tropical fruits. There is a lack of formal experimentation to determine yield performance and fruit quality traits of lychee (Litchi chinensis) cultivars. Six lychee cultivars (Bosworth-3, Brewster, Groff, Mauritius, Kaimana, Salathiel) grown on Mollisol and Inceptisol soils were evaluated for 8 years at the Adjuntas Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR-Adjuntas) and La Balear farm, Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, respectively. At UPR-Adjuntas and La Balear, cultivar Groff had a significantly higher production (257,296 fruit/ha) of total fruit than other cultivars, whereas Salathiel had the lowest. However, total fruit production of ‘Groff’ was not significantly different from ‘Kaimana’ and ‘Bosworth-3’at La Balear. At UPR-Adjuntas, cultivars Groff and Bosworth-3 had significantly higher number of marketable fruit than the rest of the cultivars averaging 171,760 fruit/ha. At La Balear, ‘Kaimana’ had a higher number of marketable fruit, but it was not significantly different from ‘Groff’, ‘Bosworth-3’, and ‘Mauritius’, averaging 291,360 fruit/ha. At both sites, individual fruit weight of marketable fruit was higher in ‘Kaimana’ than the rest of the cultivars. However, at La Balear, there were no significant differences between ‘Kaimana’ and ‘Mauritius’. At both locations, cultivars exhibited erratic production patterns, which were characterized by lower production during 1 or 2 successive years following heavy cropping. At current farm gate prices and fruit yield reported in this study, cultivars Groff, Bosworth-3, and Kaimana can generate a good income for growers, and allow them to diversify crops as part of their farm operations.

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Defoliation and growth, flowering, and production treatments in soursop trees

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v73i2.6414 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 73 (2) ◽

pp. 141-148

Author(s):

Juan G. Cruz-Castillo ◽

Arturo Cedeño-Maldonado

Keyword(s):

Potassium Iodide ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Fruit Weight ◽

Commercial Production ◽

Flower Number ◽

Tropical America ◽

Lateral Branches

Interest in commercial production of soursop has increased recently in several countries of Tropical America. The work presented here deals with some aspects of the practice of defoliation and its relation to flowering and fruit production of soursop. Treatments used to evaluate defoliation were 1) control; 2) defoliation by hand; 3) potassium iodide at 1.5%; 4) Ethrel at 1500 mg/1; and 5) Ethrel at 2,000 mg/1. The sum of the growth of new lateral branches was significantly superior in all treatments compared to that of the control, with approximately 100 cm of new growth 9 months after treatment. Defoliation by hand and with Ethrel at 1500 and 200 mg/1 shifted formation of new flowers toward the region near the apex of branches. Total flower number 9 months after treatment was statistically superior in the treatments of defoliation by hand and by 1,500 mg/1 Ethrel, with 362 and 370 flowers, respectively. Total fruit production per year was significantly greater in the 1.5% potassium iodide treatment with 21 fruits/trees and a fruit weight at 15.27 kg.

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On the inconsistency of pollinator species traits for predicting either response to agricultural intensification or functional contribution

10.1101/072132 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ignasi Bartomeus ◽

Daniel P. Cariveau ◽

Tina Harrison ◽

Rachael Winfree

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Function ◽

Agricultural Intensification ◽

Biodiversity Loss ◽

Species Traits ◽

Crop Pollination ◽

Wild Bees ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Species Response ◽

Pollination Systems

AbstractThe response and effect trait framework, if supported empirically, would provide for powerful and general predictions about how biodiversity loss will lead to loss in ecosystem function. This framework proposes that species traits will explain how different species respond to disturbance (i.e. response traits) as well as their contribution to ecosystem function (i.e. effect traits). However, predictive response and effect traits remain elusive for most systems. Here, we present detailed data on crop pollination services provided by native, wild bees to explore the role of six commonly used species traits in determining how crop pollination is affected by increasing agricultural intensification. Analyses were conducted in parallel for three crop systems (watermelon, cranberry, and blueberry) located within the same geographical region (mid-Atlantic USA). Bee species traits did not strongly predict species’ response to agricultural intensification, and the few traits that were weakly predictive were not consistent across crops. Similarly, no trait predicted species’ overall functional contribution in any of the three crop systems, although body size was a good predictor of per capita efficiency in two systems. So far, most studies looking for response or effect traits in pollination systems have found weak and often contradicting links. Overall we were unable to make generalizable predictions regarding species responses to land-use change and its effect on the delivery of ecosystem services. Pollinator traits may be useful for understanding ecological processes in some systems, but thus far the promise of traits-based ecology has yet to be fulfilled for pollination ecology.

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Biomass and Fruit Production for the Prickly Pear Cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.117.4.558 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 117 (4) ◽

pp. 558-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Victor Garcia de Cortázar ◽

Park S. Nobel

Keyword(s):

Surface Area ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Prickly Pear ◽

Opuntia Ficus Indica ◽

Central Chile ◽

Shoot Dry Weight ◽

Prickly Pear Cactus ◽

Fruit Productivity ◽

Pear Cactus

Productivity of irrigated prickly pear cactus [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller] was studied over 3 years in central Chile using two planting densities. A low-density planting (0.25 plants/m2), traditionally favored for fruit production, had maximal fruit productivity in the 2nd year (6 Mg dry weight/ha per year). A high-density planting (24 plants/m2), which assured almost full interception of incident solar radiation, led to an extremely high shoot dry-weight productivity (50 Mg·ha-1·year-1) in the 2nd year and maximal fruit productivity (6 Mg·ha-1·year-1) in the 3rd year. Cladode dry weight tended to increase with cladode surface area. However, fruit production did not occur until the dry weight per cladode exceeded the minimum dry weight for a particular cladode surface area by at least 33 g. The year-to-year variation in fruit production apparently reflected variations in such excess dry weight and, hence, in the storage reserves of individual cladodes.

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