ISHS Acta Horticulturae 614: VI International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climate: Product and Process Innovation
INFLUENCES OF DIFFERENT POLLINATORS ON WINTER MELON GROWN UNDE POLYETHYLENE TUNNEL |
| Authors: | G. Incalcaterra, G. Iapichino, F. D'Anna, A. Sinacori |
| Keywords: | honey bees, bumble bees, Cucumis melo |
| Abstract:
Winter melon is an important horticultural crop in Sicily. Melon plants grown outside during the spring?summer months are normally pollinated by honey bees. Previous researches showed that early yields can be achieved by planting melon under protected cultivation during the winter. However, problems with fruit set have been associated with lack of insect pollination due to the erratic activity of the flying bees during the winter months under plastics. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of different pollinators on fruit yield and quality of winter melon grown under protected cultivation. Seedlings of a winter melon landrace were transplanted onto polyethylene tunnels. Colonies of Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia cornuta were respectively introduced into the tunnels a few days prior to anthesis. Plants exposed to O. cornuta and B. terrestris gave higher and earlier yields than those exposed to A. mellifera and open pollinated (control). This research supports the use of colonies of Bombus and Osmia as alternate pollinators to honey bees. | |
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