ISHS Acta Horticulturae 446: VI International Symposium on Vaccinium Culture
IMPACTS OF CULTIVATION PRACTICES ON POLLINATION OF VACCINIUM |
| Author: | Marvin P. Pritts |
| Keywords: | fertilization, groundcover management, irrigation |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.446.12 |
| Abstract:
Cultural practices in Vaccinium crops can have a large influence on pollinator effectiveness, but these practices have not been examined extensively for their effects on pollinator activity. One of the more obvious cultural activities that affects bees is pest management where applied chemicals can directly poison bees, or they can repel bees and inhibit pollen germination and tube growth. However, pest management practices that conserve bee populations still need to be refined. Fruit size increases when pollen originates from a different genotype of the same species, but the optimal arrangement of varieties in a field has not been determined. Some blueberry cultivars are not particularly attractive to bees, but the factors determining attractiveness are not well known. Certain varieties could be better pollinizers than others, but with few exceptions, these have not been identified. Solitary bees and bumble bees are known to be effective pollinators of blueberry and cranberry, but little is known about how to manage border areas or groundcovers to encourage high populations. It may be possible to increase the quality of nectar through irrigation or nutrient management, but these effects have not been closely examined. Clearly, there is much that is not known about the relationship between cultural practices and pollination in Vaccinium. | |
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