Influence of bumble bee pollination on quantitative and qualitative parameters of kiwifruit

Overview of Bee Pollination and Its Economic Value for Crop Production

“…Bumble bees have contributed to the crop pollination via increasing the yield and enhancing the quality of fruits [60]. Indeed, fruit growers gain many benefits from pollination by bumble bees, which are good pollinators of several crops, such as kiwifruit (Actinidia Deliciosa) [61], sweet pepper (Capsicum annum Linn) [62,63], and red clover (Trifolium pretense Linn) (Table 1) [19].…”

“…Bumble bees are important pollinators of a diverse range of crops, including buzzpollinated crops, such as blueberry and tomato, as well as both large-flower and smallflower crops, giving them the potential to be sufficient pollinators in open fields and greenhouses [64,65]. It has also been shown that buzz pollination by Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith in India leads to bigger, longer, heavier, and healthier fruits, especially in kiwi fruit [61].…”

Fragrance addition improves visitation by honeybees and fruit quality in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)

“…Several insects are regular flower visitors such as hoverflies, wild bees, butterflies, beetles, and Apis mellifera , which is the most abundant visitor. However, in extracting and transporting pollen, bumblebees seem to be more efficient on a per visit basis 6 through buzz pollination 7,8 . Although other authors recognized bumblebees as the most efficient pollinator agents, 6–8 honeybees seem to reach similar standards, being the most frequent visitors even when a pollination service, moving hives into the orchard, is not provided 6,7 .…”

“…However, in extracting and transporting pollen, bumblebees seem to be more efficient on a per visit basis 6 through buzz pollination 7,8 . Although other authors recognized bumblebees as the most efficient pollinator agents, 6–8 honeybees seem to reach similar standards, being the most frequent visitors even when a pollination service, moving hives into the orchard, is not provided 6,7 . Wild pollinating species and honeybees are considered essential for increasing yields for many crops 9 .…”

“…Wild pollinating species and honeybees are considered essential for increasing yields for many crops 9 . Unlike other countries, 6,8,10 in Argentina, there is no characterization of floral visitors or measuring pollination services in kiwifruit.…”