Augmentation of Apis mellifera for Fruit Yield Enhancement in Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew (Kair)

Abstract

Capparis decidua (Family: Capparidaceae) is a very nutritious shrub of arid region. Its fruits are utilized in famous Rajasthani Panchkutta and Tricutta vegetable and pickle making. The present paper deals with the effect of augmentation of Apis mellifera beehives on the fruit setting and fruit quality parameters. It was found that the average numbers of fruit setting raceme-1 were found 4.36, 3.77 and 2.2 in natural pollination with augmentation of honey bees, pollination by honey bees only and natural pollination respectively. Germination percentages, total sugar, average fruit weight, shoot length and seedling length was higher in case of natural pollination with augmentation of honey bees among all the treatments.