Trends in Biosciences 8(15), Print : ISSN 0974-8431, 3743-3749, 2015
REVIEW ARTICLE
Role of Pollinators in Qualitative Fruit Crop Production: A Review
V. V. PASHTE* AND S. R. KULKARNI
Department of Entomology, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth,
Rahuri, Dist- Ahmednagar, State- Maharashtra, India.
*email: pashte.vrushali@gmail.com,
ABSTRACT
Pollinators plays efficient role in pollination of wild
plants and several crop species. Many fruit crops
require an insect pollinator to help assure pollination
(i.e. apples, blueberries, blackberries, cherries,
cranberries, raspberries, strawberries). Having
enough pollinators increases quantitative and
qualitative characters of variety of fruit crops. The
present paper provides information on the role of
native as well as managed pollinators in the fruit crop
production. Based on the variety and conditions at the
site, honeybee pollination may increase qualitative
and quantitative characters of different fruit crops. .
It is necessary to understand the importance of
pollinator’s species richness in their natural habitat
and role in crop improvement.
Key words pollinators, fruits, honey bees,
pollination
Pollinators plays important functional role as
pollinators of wild plants and several crop species.
Pollination by animals is an important ecosystem
service because crop plants accounting for 35 per
cent of global crop-based food production benefit
from animal-mediated pollination. Approximately
three-quarters of the crops cultivated worldwide
depend to some degree on pollinators to produce
seeds, fruits and vegetables (Free, 1993; William
and Anderson, 1974; Roubik, 1995; Delaplane and
Mayer, 2000). Pollinators promote either yield
quantity or quality for crops (Morandin and Winston,
2006; Klatt et al., 2014).
The total pollination activities, over 80 per cent
are performed by insects. Honeybees are however
critically important for crop pollination worldwide
(Levin and Waller, 1989; Watanabe, 1994; Thapa,
2006; Klein et al., 2007] and the yields of some
fruit, seed and nut crops can decrease by more
than 90 per cent without these pollinators
(Southwick and Southwick, 1992).
Many fruit crops require an insect pollinator
to help insure pollination (i.e. apples, blueberries,
blackberries, cherries, cranberries, raspberries,
strawberries). Having enough pollinators during
bloom is essential to produce a sustainable crop.
Proper pollination increases fruit size at yield,
hastens maturity, and produces a more
symmetrical fruit shape.
Several studies have stressed the importance
of honeybees for fruit and seed yields in different
crops and cultivars. Assam lemon Citrus limon (L)
Burm. (Gogoi et al., 2007), pear Pyrus communis
L., apple Malus domestica Borkh., Japanese plum
Prunus salicina Lundl. (Stern et al., 2007),
rabbiteye blueberry Vaccinium ashei Reade (Dedej
and Delaplane, 2003).
A well-pollinated flower will contain more
seeds, with an enhanced capacity to germinate,
leading to bigger and better-shaped fruit. Improved
pollination can also reduce the time between
flowering and fruit set, reducing the risk of
exposing fruit to pests, disease, bad weather, agro-
chemicals and saving on water (Anonymous, 2010).
The important fruit crops of tropics and subtropics
include mango, banana, guava, papaya, pineapple
and sapota. citrus, grape, pomegranate, aonla, ber,
custard apple, fig, jack fruit, jamun, litchi, loquat,
avocado, date palm and passion fruit etc. The role
of various insect pollinators in important sub-
tropical, tropical and arid or semi arid fruit crops
is mentioned below.
Mango
The evidence indicates that the need for
cross-pollination between mango cultivars is not
critical, at least for most cultivars, but there is need
for pollinating insects to transfer the pollen from
anthers to stigma within the cultivar to obtain
satisfactory crops of fruit. Bee pollination
significantly increase per cent fruit set in mango.
Major pollinators included honeybees (Apis cerana
3744 Trends in Biosciences 8 (15), 2015
and Apis mellifera) and an allodapine bee
(Braunsapis hewitti) of the Apidae and sweat bees
(Halictus sp. and Lassioglossum spp.) of the
Halictidae among the Hymenoptera, and Chrysomya
megacephala, Chrysomya pinguis, and Musca
domestica of the Diptera, which were considered
to be the dominant species due to their frequent
appearance (Sung et al., 2006). Large Diptera and
the native bee, Trigona sp., frequently moved from
tree to tree and thus were probably the most
effective cross pollinators (Anderson et al., 1982).
The primary pollinators were stingless bees (Trigona
biroi), calliphorids (Chrysomya spp.), syrphids
(Eristalis spp.) and honeybees (A. cerana and A.
mellifera) (Fajardo et al., 2008). Singh (1988)
reported that major pollination insects of mango
were Melipona sp. and Syrphus sp. Rhynchaenus
mangiferae Marsh., although a pest helped in
pollination and increased fruit setting when its
population was below the damaging level.
Coconut
Most of the honey bees are regular visitor of
coconut flowers to exploit pollen and nectar and
aids the coconut pollination (Free et al., 1975;
Castro and Viana, 1997). The European honey bee
(A. mellifera) and the Asian honey bee (A. cerana)
are outstanding pollinators of coconut palms
increased yields (up to double) when beehives are
present in plantation (India) (Anonymous, 2006a).
Melendez-Ramirez et al. (2004) concluded that
coconut fruit set could be increased through
management of honey bees or stingless bees.
Cashew
The A. mellifera and native bees forage for
pollen resource (Freitas, 1997). Cashew production
can be increased by introducing honeybee colonies
(Anonymous, 2006a). Bees are the efficient
pollinators of cashew and ants are not, rather they
seriously affect pollen viability which may result in
low cashew yield (Battacharya, 2004). Trigona
spinipes bee visits to cashew flowers were directly
correlated to nut yield (Freitas et al., 2014).
Managed bee pollination in cashew commercial
orchards assured high level of nut yield (Freitas
and Paxton, 1998).
Guava
Honey bees were the best pollinators and
increases in fruit set were achieved, the quality of
fruit was also improved (Rajagopal and Eswarappa,
2005). Twenty to forty per cent of pollination was
due to honeybees. Fruit characteristics were also
significantly improved in length and girth in bee
pollination treatment over without bee pollination
(Anonymous, 2011; Sehgal, 1961).
Strawberry
Effect of insect pollination increases fruit yield
and quality (Williams, 1994). Strawberry pollination
was done using by Bombus lucorum and A.
mellifera in greenhouses (Li Ji-Lian et al., 2006).
Bee pollination increases strawberry weight and
shape and plays important role (Connor, 1975;
Chagnon et al., 1993; Zebrowska, 1998). Pollen
transported by bees is important for optimal
development of these first berries harvested for
market (Chagnon et al., 1998).
Pomegranate
Bee pollination could improve the setting rate
and weight of pomegranate fruit significantly
compared with self-pollination (Derin and Eti, 2001;
Tao et al., 2010). With subsequent cross-
pollination, fruit set can increase to around 68 per
cent and additionally there is an increase in fruit
quality (i.e. number of seeds per fruit, fruit size)
(Anonymous, 2006b). There is little quantitative data
available with regard to the efficiency of honey bees
in the pollination of pomegranate; however,
McGregor (1976) states that growers in California
arrange for honey bee colonies to be placed in or
near their fields, believing that their presence benefits
pomegranate fruit production.
Avocado
Avocado pollination usually requires an insect
vector (Ish-Am and Eisikowitch, 1993). The honey
bees, hover flies and native bees were the pollinators
of avocado crop (Vithange, 1989; 1990; 1993). In
most countries, the European honey bee (A.
mellifera) is considered the principal pollinator. In
New Zealand, it is recommended that four to 10
hives of honey bees per hectare are introduced for
pollination (Ish-Am and Eisikowitch, 1993).
Apple
The studies suggested that for enhancing the
productivity and improving the quality of apple
fruits, pollination services through bees is of
significant value (Sharma et al., 2012). The impact
 PASHTE and KULKARNI, Role of Pollinators in Qualitative Fruit Crop Production: A Review
of increased bee visits and placement of bee
colonies in terms of increased fruit set and low
fruit drop in apple. These observations are in line
with earlier observations of Rana et al. (1998),
Gupta et al. (1993), Sharma and Gupta (2001) and
Sharma et al. (2004) who have also reported
increased fruit set and low fruit drop in orchards
with managed pollination.
Litchi
Pollen transfer in litchi may be by a
combination of autogamous self-pollination, wind
or insects, however, for commercial crops
pollination by insects (in particular by the honey
bee) is considered crucial to obtain a good yield
(McGregor, 1976; Badiyala and Garg, 1990; Dutoit,
1994; Menzel and Waite; 2005). The insect
pollination increases fruit yield and quality. The
European honey bee (A. mellifera) has been found
the most efficient pollinator of litchi as compared
to others (Kumar, 2014). Many studies have shown
significant increases in yield of lychee crops as a
result of honey bee pollination. Badiyala and Garg
(1990) introduced four honey bee colonies into a
litchi orchard in India at the start of flowering and
recorded fruit set two to three times higher in
inflorescences open to honey bees compared to
those that were bagged to exclude them.
Banana
Among the insects visiting banana
inflorescence, the honeybees (A. cerana, A.
mellifera and A. dorsata) were the dominant visitors
(77.50%) followed by the wasps (Polistes
haebraceous & Vespa orientalis) with 15.53%
visitation. The remaining insect visitors comprised
of other hymenoptran insects including the sting
less bees (Kaushik et al., 2012).
Melons
Most of the melons have male and female
(pistilate) fruit producing flowers. Insect pollination
is necessary for commercial fruits set, because of
large, sticky pollen grains cannot be moved by the
wind. Some melons such as seedless or
parthenocarpic do not need pollinators. Misshapen
or undersized fruits are often caused by inadequate
pollination.
Watermelon is entirely dependent upon
pollination services usually by insects for production
3745
(Delaplane and Mayer, 2000). The main pollinator
for this crop was found to be the honey bee, A.
mellifera but wild species of Lasioglossum were
found as important pollinators (Njoroge et al.,
2010). Bee visits increases fruit set and fruit yield
(Adlerz, 1966; Elstorm and Maynard, 1991; Sattigi
et al., 2001). The studies conducted by El-Kazafy
and Yousry, 2009 revealed that open pollination
treatment produced the highest number of mature
fruits and seed yield as compared with caged plants
without any insect visitors which did not produce
any fruits at all. Caged bee colonies with crop
significantly improve crop yield. Similarly, Souza
and Malerbo-Souza (2005) observed that insect
visits were necessary to fruit set in watermelon,
the flowers of the covered area, which were not
visited by insects, did not produce fruits.
Passionfruit
The principal insects visiting passion fruit
include A. mellifera (honey bee) and Xylocopa
vanpuncta (carpenter bees). Carpenter bee is the
most effective pollinator as it has large body and
its body brushes along the anther and stigma while
obtaining nectar (Kishore et al., 2010). The bee
species richness influenced the fruit set of yellow
passion fruit and that such diversity of pollinators
added to their frequency on flowers and seemed to
maintain a much higher reproductive efficacy
(Yamamoto et al., 2012).
Ber
The flowers are protandrous. Hence, fruit set
depends on cross-pollination by insects attracted
by the fragrance and nectar. Pollen of the Indian
jujube is thick and heavy. It is not airborne but is
transferred from flower to flower by honeybees.
Kumar (1990) reported in ‘ber’ that among different
insect visitors, Apis spp. were observed foraging
on both nectar and pollen while dipteran and
lepidopteran insects foraged for nectar only. Singh
(1984) recorded that honeybees and other
hymenopteran insects on jujube (Zizyphus
mauritiana L.amk.) were more active on upper
branches while housefly and other dipteran insects
were abundant on middle and lower branches.
Anola
Aonla is basically a cross pollinated plant.
Wind, honeybees and gravity play an important role
in effective pollination. The pollination studies
3746 Trends in Biosciences 8 (15), 2015
showed considerable variation with respect to fruit
set and retention. The use of pollinators (honey
bees) and pollinizers in aonla orchards is necessary
for increasing the fruit yield (Allemullah and Ram,
1990).
Custard apple
In case of custard apple the nitidulid beetles
are the most important pollinators. The ten per cent
of yield can be attributed to pollination of honeybees
(Anonymous, 2006a).
Citrus
The literature contains conflicting reports on
the need for bees in some citrus varieties. It is
therefore difficult to make generalisations.
Depending on the variety and conditions at the site,
honeybee pollination may increase fruit set, fruit
size and seed number. Krezdorn, 1970 suggested
that this by no means indicates pollination is not
necessary in citrus. Although cross pollination is
required, use of honey bees remains the most
consistent, effective and economical means of
ensuring adequate yields.
Cherries and plums
Wind is not a factor in pollinating Prunus spp.
(cherries and plums) and honeybees are by far the
majority of the insect visitors to plum blossom.
Honeybees collect nectar and pollen from blossoms
and find this group of plants very attractive. Sugar
concentrations as high as 55% in sweet cherry
nectar have been recorded which makes the
blossom very attractive to bees. For plums and
cherries a stocking rate of 2–3 hives/ha is generally
regarded as adequate to pollinate most crops
(Somerville, 2000).
Sapota
The thrips (Thrips hawaiiensis and
Haplothrips tenuipennis) live on nectar, pollen
grains and stigmatic exudations and take shelter in
the return they do the service of pollination. They
do most geitonogamous pollination (Reddy, 1989).
Papaya
Papaya plants may be self-pollinating (bisexual
plants) or cross pollinated by insects or wind.
Pollinators include honey bees, wasps, midges,
thrips, syrphid flies, and butterflies (Crane, 2013).
The papaya is wind pollinated, also pollinated by
bees and moths. Honeybees reported to be primary
pollinating agents of papaya. The hummingbird moth
(Macroglossum stellatarum) and various species of
Trigona and Xylocopa were also the visitors of
papaya flowers [40]. Stingless bees also participate
in papaya pollination (Heard, 1999).
Fig
The female fig wasp’s role in pollinating certain
edible figs, especially Smyrna fig (Ficus carica), is
critical to the fig grower, as most economically
valuable figs require fertilization to ripen (Kjellberg
et al., 1987; Noort, 2004; Moe et al., 2011).
Recommendation regarding managed bee
colonies
It is difficult to give exact numbers for how
many colonies a particular crop requires for the
best pollination. Many researchers given the some
numbers of colonies per area, but the data
mentioned in the literatures of different workers
varies a lot. At harvest time, a well-pollinated crop
has: well-shaped fruits; well-filled seed pods; a
uniform seed set; and tight clusters of fruits or
seeds. From research and experience, it is possible
to recommend a certain number of bee colonies
per hectare when growing a crop, but many other
factors can influence on the recommended number
of colonies. It should be known how many wild
colonies there are nearby and surrounding attractive
crops competing for the bees. Farmers can judge
the need of supply of bee colonies on the basis of
their own experience after harvesting and put into
action in the next crop.
Pollination improves the yield of most crop
species and contributes fruit crop production, but
precise comprehensive benefits to the famers
regarding some crops are still unknown. Honey bees
are effective pollinators in fruit crops. However,
the native bees are also important pollinators and in
some cases are more efficient than honey bees at
the individual level. By renting honey bee colonies
with good pollination efficiency, a grower can
compensate for the decrease in wild bees and
increase the likelihood of proper pollination.
Depending on the variety and conditions at the site,
honeybee pollination may increase qualitative and
quantitative characters of different fruit crops.
Further research and experiments may clearly give
estimates of the economic value of pollinator’s
 PASHTE and KULKARNI, Role of Pollinators in Qualitative Fruit Crop Production: A Review
service to the fruit crops. It is necessary to
understand the importance of pollinator’s species
richness in their natural habitat and human activities
must be subjected to their conservation.
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Received on 06-07-2015 Accepted on 14-07-2015