Pollination Effectiveness of the Hoverfly <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> (Scopoli, 1763) in Diploid and Triploid Associated Watermelon Crop
Watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i>) is an important crop worldwide. Pollination of this crop is carried out by insects, with honey bees (<i>Apis</i> spp.) and bumble bees (<i>Bombus</i> spp.) as the most used in greenhouse production. Nevertheless, due to the ex...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/11/1021 |
| _version_ | 1797467758308360192 |
|---|---|
| author | Manuela Sánchez Yelitza Velásquez Mónica González Julián Cuevas |
| author_facet | Manuela Sánchez Yelitza Velásquez Mónica González Julián Cuevas |
| author_sort | Manuela Sánchez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Watermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i>) is an important crop worldwide. Pollination of this crop is carried out by insects, with honey bees (<i>Apis</i> spp.) and bumble bees (<i>Bombus</i> spp.) as the most used in greenhouse production. Nevertheless, due to the extreme conditions in closed enclosures, these hymenopterans suffer management and behavior problems leading to insufficient pollination. The effectiveness of three release densities (15, 30, and 45 individuals/m<sup>2</sup>) of <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> was compared in diploid- and triploid-associated watermelon varieties under protected cultivation. Floral visits, pollen–pistil interaction after pollen transport, yield, and fruit quality were evaluated. The number of floral visits increased with release density in both pistillate and staminate flowers. No significant differences were observed, however, among release densities or between flower types in the duration of the visits. Floral preferences were not found in the behavior of <i>E. aeneus</i> in watermelon. High and medium release densities increased pollen deposition onto the stigma, and consequently the yield of the triploid variety compared to low release density, by 23.8 to 41.8% in 2020 and by 36.3 to 46.7% in 2021. The results of this trial demonstrate the potential of <i>E. aeneus</i> as a managed pollinator in protected cultivation of triploid watermelon. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:58:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02490711b6624b89829db014755444ba |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:58:15Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-02490711b6624b89829db014755444ba2023-11-24T05:13:37ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-11-011311102110.3390/insects13111021Pollination Effectiveness of the Hoverfly <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> (Scopoli, 1763) in Diploid and Triploid Associated Watermelon CropManuela Sánchez0Yelitza Velásquez1Mónica González2Julián Cuevas3Department of Agronomy, University of Almería, ceiA3, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, SpainDepartment of Research and Development, Polyfly S.L., Avenida de la Innovación 15, 04131 Almería, SpainExperimental Station Foundation Cajamar, Paraje las Palmerillas, 25, 04710 El Ejido, SpainDepartment of Agronomy, University of Almería, ceiA3, Ctra. Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almería, SpainWatermelon (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i>) is an important crop worldwide. Pollination of this crop is carried out by insects, with honey bees (<i>Apis</i> spp.) and bumble bees (<i>Bombus</i> spp.) as the most used in greenhouse production. Nevertheless, due to the extreme conditions in closed enclosures, these hymenopterans suffer management and behavior problems leading to insufficient pollination. The effectiveness of three release densities (15, 30, and 45 individuals/m<sup>2</sup>) of <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> was compared in diploid- and triploid-associated watermelon varieties under protected cultivation. Floral visits, pollen–pistil interaction after pollen transport, yield, and fruit quality were evaluated. The number of floral visits increased with release density in both pistillate and staminate flowers. No significant differences were observed, however, among release densities or between flower types in the duration of the visits. Floral preferences were not found in the behavior of <i>E. aeneus</i> in watermelon. High and medium release densities increased pollen deposition onto the stigma, and consequently the yield of the triploid variety compared to low release density, by 23.8 to 41.8% in 2020 and by 36.3 to 46.7% in 2021. The results of this trial demonstrate the potential of <i>E. aeneus</i> as a managed pollinator in protected cultivation of triploid watermelon.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/11/1021hoverflypollinationwatermelon<i>Eristalinus aeneus</i>plant–pollinator interactionsalternative pollinators |
| spellingShingle | Manuela Sánchez Yelitza Velásquez Mónica González Julián Cuevas Pollination Effectiveness of the Hoverfly <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> (Scopoli, 1763) in Diploid and Triploid Associated Watermelon Crop Insects hoverfly pollination watermelon <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> plant–pollinator interactions alternative pollinators |
| title | Pollination Effectiveness of the Hoverfly <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> (Scopoli, 1763) in Diploid and Triploid Associated Watermelon Crop |
| title_full | Pollination Effectiveness of the Hoverfly <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> (Scopoli, 1763) in Diploid and Triploid Associated Watermelon Crop |
| title_fullStr | Pollination Effectiveness of the Hoverfly <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> (Scopoli, 1763) in Diploid and Triploid Associated Watermelon Crop |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pollination Effectiveness of the Hoverfly <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> (Scopoli, 1763) in Diploid and Triploid Associated Watermelon Crop |
| title_short | Pollination Effectiveness of the Hoverfly <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> (Scopoli, 1763) in Diploid and Triploid Associated Watermelon Crop |
| title_sort | pollination effectiveness of the hoverfly i eristalinus aeneus i scopoli 1763 in diploid and triploid associated watermelon crop |
| topic | hoverfly pollination watermelon <i>Eristalinus aeneus</i> plant–pollinator interactions alternative pollinators |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/11/1021 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT manuelasanchez pollinationeffectivenessofthehoverflyieristalinusaeneusiscopoli1763indiploidandtriploidassociatedwatermeloncrop AT yelitzavelasquez pollinationeffectivenessofthehoverflyieristalinusaeneusiscopoli1763indiploidandtriploidassociatedwatermeloncrop AT monicagonzalez pollinationeffectivenessofthehoverflyieristalinusaeneusiscopoli1763indiploidandtriploidassociatedwatermeloncrop AT juliancuevas pollinationeffectivenessofthehoverflyieristalinusaeneusiscopoli1763indiploidandtriploidassociatedwatermeloncrop |