Abstract
To study the pollinator community of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and the best
pollinators for radish production in terms of their foraging behavior, an experiment
was performed at the research farm of University College of Agriculture and
Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. A total of
771 individuals of insects were observed, 51 percent of which were the flies (Diptera)
and remaining 49 percent were the bees (Hymenoptera). The most abundant species
was Episyrphus balteatus followed by Andrena sp., Apis florea, A. dorsata, Eristalinus
aeneus and E. laetus. The maximum visitation rate was recorded in case of E. balteatus
and Andrena sp. The maximum stay time was recorded in case of E. aeneus and E.
laetus. The maximum number of pollen grains was deposited on stigma by A. dorsata
(196.32 pollen grains) followed by Andrena sp. (155.47), E. laetus (143.47), A. florea
(108.47), E. aeneus (102.74) and E. balteatus (62.63). Only A. florea and E. balteatus
exhibited nectar robbing behavior i.e. 86% and 28% nectar robbing events,
respectively. All the pollinators except A. florea came in contact with stigma and fed
either for pollen or for both nectar and pollen. Apis florea mostly (82% of its visits)
fed for nectar alone. All the bees preferred feeding on both nectar and pollen while all
the flies preferred feeding on pollen alone. Conserving and enhancing these pollinators
may boost the R. sativus production in Pakistan.
Syed Usama Zameer, Muhammad Bilal, Muhammad Imran Fazal, Asif Sajjad. (2017) Foraging behavior of pollinators leads to effective pollination in radish Raphanus sativus L., Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Volume 5, Issue 4.
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