scholarly journals The Ecology of Autogamy in Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton): Does the Early Clone Get the Bee?

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1153
Author(s):  
Francis A. Drummond ◽  
Lisa J. Rowland
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Dilution Effect ◽  
Bumble Bee ◽  
Vaccinium Angustifolium ◽  
Absolute Density ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Self Compatibility ◽  
Bee Community ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
Wild Blueberry

Wild blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton, for the most part requires cross-pollination. However, there is a continuum across a gradient from zero to 100% in self-compatibility. We previously found by sampling many fields that 20–25% of clones during bloom have high levels of self-compatibility (≥50%). In 2009–2011, and 2015 we studied the ecology of self-pollination in wild blueberry, specifically its phenology and bee recruitment and subsequent bee density on bloom. We found that highly self-compatible clones were predominantly early blooming genotypes in the wild blueberry population. On average, fruit set and berry weight were highest in self-compatible genotypes. The bumble bee community (queens only early in the spring) was characterized by bees that spent large amounts of time foraging in self-compatible plant patches that comprised only a small proportion of the blueberry field, the highest density in the beginning of bloom when most genotypes in bloom were self-compatible. As bloom proceeded in the spring, more plants were in bloom and thus more land area was occupied by blooming plants. The absolute density of bumble bee queens per m2 declined, as a dilution effect, and this probably resulted in lower fruit set throughout the field.

scholarly journals Reproductive Biology of Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton)

Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Drummond
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Total Variance ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Pollen Deposition ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Vaccinium Angustifolium ◽  
Understory Plant ◽  
Viable Seeds ◽  
Wild Blueberry

Wild blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton, is a native forest understory plant that is managed as a fruit crop. Over the past 51 years, experiments have been conducted to investigate its reproduction. A model was developed that predicts bloom to begin at 100° days (base 4.4 °C) after 1 April and to end at 500° days for a period of three to four weeks. Flower stigmas are only receptive to pollen deposition for eight to 10 days, and the rate of fruit set declines rapidly after four days. Placement of pollen upon receptive stigmas suggests that fruit set occurs with as little as a single pollen tetrad. Twelve tetrads result in 50% fruit set. Several years of exploratory fruit set field experiments show viable seeds per berry, which result from pollination with compatible genotype pollen, is associated with larger berry mass (g). Decomposition of the total variance in fruit set shows that stem variation explains 65% to 79% of total variance in the fruit set. To a lesser extent, the field, year, and clone also explain the percent fruit set variation. Variation between stems may be due to variation in the number of flowers. Fruit set tends to decrease as the flower density increases, possibly due to the limitation of pollinators.

Shattering the folklore: black flies do not pollinate sweet lowbush blueberry

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
pp. 2051-2054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona F Hunter ◽  
Steven G Burgin ◽  
Allan Woodhouse
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Canadian Shield ◽  
Black Flies ◽  
Vaccinium Angustifolium ◽  
Black Fly ◽  
Chamaedaphne Calyculata ◽  
Lowbush Blueberry ◽  
In The Wild

It is often said that on the Canadian Shield, black flies pollinate the sweet lowbush blueberry, because years with high black fly populations also tend to be those with large blueberry crops. This folklore has never been tested experimentally. Here we report on research designed to test whether or not black flies can act as pollinators for two species of ericaceous plants, sweet lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) and leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata). In enclosures, black flies may assist in leatherleaf pollination but there is no evidence that they increase fruit set in sweet lowbush blueberry. However, we do not exclude the possibility that in the wild, they act as opportunistic nectar thieves of sweet lowbush blueberry.

scholarly journals Effects of Self-pollination and Cross-pollination of Vaccinium darrowii (Ericaceae) and Other Low-chill Blueberries

HortScience ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 1538-1541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario J. Chavez ◽  
Paul M. Lyrene
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Self Incompatibility ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination ◽  
Self Compatibility ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Wild Blueberry

Partial to complete self-incompatibility is normal in most Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) species. Wild blueberry plants of several Florida provenances and species were self- and cross-pollinated in a greenhouse free of pollinators. Fruit set of V. darrowii Camp (2x), V. corymbosum L. (4x), V. arboreum Marsh (2x), and F1 (V. darrowii × V. corymbosum) hybrids was higher after cross-pollination than after self-pollination. Partial to complete self-incompatibility was present in V. darrowii, V. corymbosum, and their tetraploid F1 hybrids. The three V. arboreum clones tested were fully self-incompatible. Intra- and interpopulation crosses in V. corymbosum, V. darrowii, and V. darrowii × V. corymbosum hybrids were highly successful, and self-pollination reduced all fertility parameters. Advanced selections of V. corymbosum were the most self-compatible clones tested, possibly because self-compatibility has been increased by breeders selecting for reliable fruit set in large fields planted with one or a few clones. One southern highbush selection and two F1 hybrids had fruit set of more than 70% after self-pollination. These plants could be potentially used to breed plants that could be planted in single blocks providing reliable yield.

scholarly journals Analysis of Pollination Services Provided by Wild and Managed Bees (Apoidea) in Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) Production in Maine, USA, with a Literature Review

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1413
Author(s):  
Sara L. Bushmann ◽  
Francis A. Drummond
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Bumble Bees ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Vaccinium Angustifolium ◽  
Wild Bee ◽  
Bee Communities ◽  
Wild Blueberry

Maine is the largest producer of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) in the United States. Pollination comes from combinations of honey bees (Apis mellifera (L.)), commercial bumble bees (Bombus impatiens Cresson), and wild bees. This study addresses (1) previous research addressing wild-blueberry pollination, (2) effects of wild-bee and honey-bee activity densities on fruit set, yield, and crop value, (3) the economic value of wild-bee communities, and (4) economic consequences of pollinator loss. Bee communities were sampled in 40 fields over three years (2010–2012) and bee activity densities were estimated for bumble bees, honey bees, and other wild bees. These data were applied to an economic model to estimate the value of bee taxa. Bumble bees and honey bees predicted fruit set and reduced its spatial heterogeneity. Other wild bees were not significant predictors of fruit set. Yield was predicted by fruit set and field size, but not pest management tactics. Our analysis showed that disruption in supply of honey bees would result in nearly a 30% decrease in crop yield, buffered in part by wild bees that provide “background” levels of pollination. Honey-bee stocking density and, thus, the activity density of honey bees was greater in larger fields, but not for wild bees. Therefore, a decrease in crop yield would be greater than 30% for large fields due to the proportionally greater investment in honey bees in large fields and a relatively lower contribution by wild bees.

Reproductive success of Acacia longifolia (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) in native and invasive populations

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Correia ◽  
Sílvia Castro ◽  
Susana Rodríguez-Echeverría
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Seed Size ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Lower Number ◽  
Open Pollination ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Reproductive Assurance ◽  
Acacia Species ◽  
Self Compatibility ◽  
Selfing Ability

The reproductive biology of exotic species affects their capacity to become naturalised and invasive in non-native areas. Selfing is a common trait in many invasive plants probably because it provides reproductive assurance under low availability of pollination vectors and sexual partners. Nonetheless, the predominantly self-incompatible Australian Acacia species are among the most aggressive plants worldwide. To address whether there have been changes in selfing ability and natural reproductive success of A. longifolia during invasion, we compared one population in the invaded area (Portugal) with one population in the native range (Australia). We specifically assessed floral traits, fruit set and offspring traits for selfing and open-pollination treatments. Within each pollination treatment, no differences were found between areas, suggesting that the level of self-compatibility has not changed during invasion. However, the number of aborted seeds and seed size were significantly different between pollination treatments in Australia but not in Portugal. There were significant differences in the number of seeds per pod and in seed weight between ranges. A lower number of aborted seeds, a higher number of fully developed seeds and a greater seed size were found in the invaded area for both pollination treatments. In spite of the low selfing ability of A. longifolia in the invaded area, there was an increase in the quantity and size of the seeds produced in the new region, even for self-pollinated fruits, which might contribute to A. longifolia invasiveness.

Effect of drought on ericoid mycorrhizae in wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.)

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Jeliazkova and D. Percival
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Root Weight ◽  
Vaccinium Angustifolium ◽  
Ericoid Mycorrhizae ◽  
Randomized Complete Block Design ◽  
Influence Of Water ◽  
Wild Blueberry

To evaluate the influence of water exclusion on the mycorrhizal coloni zations in wild blueberry, and to examine the spatial distribution of mycorrhizae among roots of wild blueberry plants that were in both the vegetative and cropping stages of production, a randomized complete block design was used. The mycorrhizal coloniz a tions were equally distributed throughout upper and lower soil profiles in both stages of production. Nevertheless, soil moisture levels in water exclusion treatments were as much as 50% lower than the control, drought stress had no effect on mycorrhizal colonization levels or on any other of the measured responses. Root weight and volume decreased as soil depth increased from 0-7.5 to 7.5-15 cm. Key words:

scholarly journals Self-Compatibility Crosses of Several Cocoa Clones

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agung Wahyu Susilo
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Theobroma Cacao ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Germplasm Collection ◽  
Experimental Station ◽  
Self Pollination ◽  
Self Compatibility

Self compatibility cross in cocoa is a useful criterion in utilizing germplasm collection. Evaluation of self-compatibility crosses on cocoa clones has been carried out in Kaliwining Experimental Station of ICCRI by treating artificial self-pollination. The observed clones were TSH 858, ICS 60, ICS 13, UIT 1, KW 162, KW 165, KW 163, DR 1, DR 2, DRC 16, DRC 15, KKM 22, Na 32, Na 33 and DR 38. Self-compatibility crosses were identified by percentage of fruit set evaluated during 6 consecutive weeks after pollination. The results showed that the percentage of fruit set were significantly different among clones in the range of 0—46.34%. Three groups of compatibility of cocoa clones were identified i.e. first, self-incompatible clones of DR 1, Na 32, Na 33; second, partially self compatible clones of DR 38, TSH 858, ICS 60, ICS 13, UIT 1, KW 162, KW 165, KKM 22; and third, self-compatible clones of DR 2, DRC 16,DRC 15, KW 163. Clones which perform self-incompatible and partially self-compatible furthermore can be used as female parents in the production of hybrids. Key words: self-compatibility, Theobroma cacao, clones.

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