The effect of pollinator insect visitation on flower development and productivity of chilli plant

Abstract

This research aimed to find out; (1) the pollinator insect diversity of chili plant; and (2) the effect of pollinator insect visitation on flower development and productivity of chili plant. This experimental study was designed with a factorial completely randomized design. The independent variable was visitation of pollinator insect on plant, while the dependent variables were pollinator insect diversity, flower development, and productivity of chili plant. Each treatment consisted of 5 replicating plots, and each plot contained 4 potted plants. Flower development observation was carried out as long as the chili plant flowering. As supporting data were the frequency and longevity of pollinator visiting. The results showed pollinator insects on chili plants were Trigona, Apis, Lasioglossum, and Camponotus. The highest frequency of visitation were Trigona and Camponotus, while the highest longevity was Camponotus. The inhibitory treatment of pollinator insect visitation caused the plant began to flower more slowly and the flower bloomed last longer. The plant was also harvested 2 months slower, and the average number and weight of fruit per plant tended to be lower.

Diversity of insect flower visitors of cayenne pepper in agricultural landscapes, Banggai, Central Sulawesi

“…The research results by Landaverde-González et al, (2017) also showed that bees from the genus Lasioglossum were the most abundant group in cayenne fields compared to other bee species. Aminatun et al (2019) also reported that Lasioglossum bees are pollinators in cayenne pepper. Meanwhile, Ercan & Onus (2003), Vishwakarma &Singh (2018), andSoli et al (2020) reported that Megachile bees pollinate cayenne and can even produce better yields and fruit quality.…”

Understanding the relations between Solanaceae crops and their pollinators: a global meta‐network

“…2022), ants (Aminatun et al . 2019), butterflies (Putra et al . 2021), and beetles (Wanza‐Soli et al .…”

“…Solanaceae includes 150 genera and approximately 2,500-3,000 species (Lorenzi & Souza 2012) whose flowers offer large quantities of pollen (pollen flowers; Vogel 1978), or pollen and small amounts of nectar. Although mostly beepollinated (Palma et al 2008;Kiatoko et al 2014;Deyto & Cervancia 2022), other pollinator groups, such flies, wasps, thrips, butterflies, ants, and beetles, successfully pollinate Solanaceae flowers (Aminatun et al 2019;Wanza-Soli et al 2020 Zameer et al 2022). Solanaceae is one of the most important angiosperm families in the world, with third highest economic value, and first among nutritionally relevant vegetables (Wilf et al 2017;Baldrich et al 2022).…”

“…Quantity and quality of production is favoured by insect pollination, even in self‐compatible species (Aminatun et al . 2019; De Araujo Campos et al . 2022), as observed in Solanaceae crops whose dependence on pollinators ranges from modest to essential (Buchmann 1983; Wolowski et al .…”

Impact of Foraging Insect Pollinators on Chili Production

“…Pollinator insects increase fertilization rate in flowering plants by transferring pollen from anther to stigma within a flower or between flowers of the same plant or different plants of the same species. Aminatun et al (2019) reported that nine species of pollinator insects visited the flowers of chili plants with a view to feeding, pollen collection, and warmth.…”