Weeds Enhance Pollinator Diversity and Fruit Yield in Mango
Agriculture is dependent on insect pollination, yet in areas of intensive production agriculture, there is often a decline in plant and insect diversity. As native habitats and plants are replaced, often only the weeds or unwanted vegetation persist. This study compared insect diversity on mango, &l...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/12/1114 |
| _version_ | 1827671942463750144 |
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| author | Blaire M. Kleiman Suzanne Koptur Krishnaswamy Jayachandran |
| author_facet | Blaire M. Kleiman Suzanne Koptur Krishnaswamy Jayachandran |
| author_sort | Blaire M. Kleiman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agriculture is dependent on insect pollination, yet in areas of intensive production agriculture, there is often a decline in plant and insect diversity. As native habitats and plants are replaced, often only the weeds or unwanted vegetation persist. This study compared insect diversity on mango, <i>Mangifera indica</i>, a tropical fruit tree dependent on insect pollination, when weeds were present in cultivation versus when they were removed mechanically. The pollinating insects on both weeds and mango trees were examined as well as fruit set and yield in both the weed-free and weedy treatment in South Florida. There were significantly more pollinators and key pollinator families on the weedy mango trees, as well as significantly greater fruit yield in the weedy treatment compared to the weed-free treatment. Utilizing weeds, especially native species, as insectary plants can help ensure sufficient pollination of mango and increase biodiversity across crop monocropping systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:52:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-849cddfc9c0840d393869cbfe6bf668c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:52:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-849cddfc9c0840d393869cbfe6bf668c2023-11-23T08:53:03ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-12-011212111410.3390/insects12121114Weeds Enhance Pollinator Diversity and Fruit Yield in MangoBlaire M. Kleiman0Suzanne Koptur1Krishnaswamy Jayachandran2Department of Earth and Environment, Agroecology Program, Institute of Environment, International Center for Tropical Botany, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, USADepartment of Biology, Plant Ecology Lab, Institute of Environment, International Center for Tropical Botany, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, USADepartment of Earth and Environment, Agroecology Program, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, USAAgriculture is dependent on insect pollination, yet in areas of intensive production agriculture, there is often a decline in plant and insect diversity. As native habitats and plants are replaced, often only the weeds or unwanted vegetation persist. This study compared insect diversity on mango, <i>Mangifera indica</i>, a tropical fruit tree dependent on insect pollination, when weeds were present in cultivation versus when they were removed mechanically. The pollinating insects on both weeds and mango trees were examined as well as fruit set and yield in both the weed-free and weedy treatment in South Florida. There were significantly more pollinators and key pollinator families on the weedy mango trees, as well as significantly greater fruit yield in the weedy treatment compared to the weed-free treatment. Utilizing weeds, especially native species, as insectary plants can help ensure sufficient pollination of mango and increase biodiversity across crop monocropping systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/12/1114weedsinsectsmangopollinators |
| spellingShingle | Blaire M. Kleiman Suzanne Koptur Krishnaswamy Jayachandran Weeds Enhance Pollinator Diversity and Fruit Yield in Mango Insects weeds insects mango pollinators |
| title | Weeds Enhance Pollinator Diversity and Fruit Yield in Mango |
| title_full | Weeds Enhance Pollinator Diversity and Fruit Yield in Mango |
| title_fullStr | Weeds Enhance Pollinator Diversity and Fruit Yield in Mango |
| title_full_unstemmed | Weeds Enhance Pollinator Diversity and Fruit Yield in Mango |
| title_short | Weeds Enhance Pollinator Diversity and Fruit Yield in Mango |
| title_sort | weeds enhance pollinator diversity and fruit yield in mango |
| topic | weeds insects mango pollinators |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/12/1114 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT blairemkleiman weedsenhancepollinatordiversityandfruityieldinmango AT suzannekoptur weedsenhancepollinatordiversityandfruityieldinmango AT krishnaswamyjayachandran weedsenhancepollinatordiversityandfruityieldinmango |