ROLE OF POLLINATORS ON EGYPTIAN CLOVER POLLINATION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HONEYBEE AT SOHAG GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

Mazeed, A. R.; Zidan, E. W.; Abd El-latif, A. M.

doi:10.21608/ajs.2019.43835

ROLE OF POLLINATORS ON EGYPTIAN CLOVER POLLINATION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HONEYBEE AT SOHAG GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Bee Research Dept., Plant Protection Res. Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

² Forage Research Dept., Field Crops Res. Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Giza, Egypt.

10.21608/ajs.2019.43835

Abstract

Data revealed that Egyptian clover were visited by 22 genus of arthropods belong to 16 families and 7 orders. The identified species were classified to phytophagous, Nectarivore, predatory insects. During both seasons Apis mellifera L. and Megachile sp. were the most abundant pollinators detected at the first week of May till the end of flowering season in mid-June. The highest activity period for A. mellifera was detected at 11:00 am. However, the lowest activity was found at 3:00 pm. and 5:00 pm. in both seasons, respectively, with insignificant difference between them in the first season. Whereas the highest activity period for Megachile sp. was detected at 1:00 pm. and the lowest activity was found at 7:00 am. During both seasons. The free pollination treatment produced the highest mean number of seeds per head followed by the caged with honeybees followed by the caged without honeybees treatment with average (48.15, 43.85 and 13.20 seeds /head) and (51.10, 46.10 and 10.85 seeds /head) during 2017 and 2018 seasons, respectively. The caged plants without honeybees produced the low weight of 1000 seed. Whereas the non-caged treatment produced the highest weights with an average (2.75 and 2.55 g) and (3.50 and 3.90 g) during both seasons, respectively.

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