Abundance and foraging behaviour of major insect pollinators on seed crop of broccol (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) LPH-1

The studies were carried out at the Vegetable Research Farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during 2013-2014. The main aim of the study was good seed setting and it is done by bee pollination which improves the yield and quality of crops. The results shows revealed that Apis mellifera (5.96) was the most abundant visitor and highly significant over A. florea (4.46), syrphid fly (2.97), A.dorsata (2.62) and A.cerana (1.66) visitor. Irrespective of species, abundance of bees was the lowest at 0700-0900 h (0.73 bees/m2/5 minutes) and the highest at 1100-1300 h (6.29 bees/m2/5 minutes). The result of foraging speed, maximum for A. florea (37.44) and highly significant over followed by A. dorsata (5.24), A. mellifera (4.52 ), A. cerana (3.58) and syrphid fly (2.67). The result of foraging rate, maximum for syrphid fly (17.42) and highly significant over A. cerana (10.27), A. mellifera (10.00), A. dorsata (7.77) and A. florea ( 1.71). Due to bee pollination, seed set in caged condition was very less as compared to uncaged condition and quality of seeds was also good in uncaged condition.