Pollination Efficiency of Bee Species Pollinating ＂Coffea arabica＂ in Kiambu County Kenya

Rebecca H. N. Karanja ； Grace N. Njoroge ； Mary W. Gikungu ； L. E. Newton

《Current Research Journal of Biological Sciences》 6卷5期 (2014/09) Pp. 179-182

並列摘要

Prior to commencement of this study, a survey to identify common bees pollinating ＂C. arabica＂ in Kenya was done. ＂Patellapis zonalictus＂, ＂Apis mellifera＂ and ＂Lasioglossum spp.＂ were identified as the common pollinators of ＂C. arabica＂ flowers. Pollination efficiency was analyzed indirectly by assessing pollen deposition on stigmas. Flowers were bagged at bud stage. When the pollinator exclusion bags were removed, the virgin flowers were allowed a single pollinator visit and then the stigmas crushed on a microscope slide and stained using fuchsin dye. The pollen grains deposited on the stigma were counted under a dissecting microscope. The numbers of non coffee pollen grains were also counted to assess pollen purity. Results indicated that ＂P. zonalictus＂ and ＂Lasioglossum spp.＂ were more efficient pollinators of ＂C. arabica＂ than ＂A. mellifera＂. They deposited significantly higher amounts of ＂C. arabica＂ pollen grains. The pollen grains also had a significantly higher purity ratio when compared with the pollen grains deposited by ＂Apis mellifera＂ (p＜0.001).

並列關鍵字

＂Coffea arabica＂ ； pollen deposition ； pollen purity ； pollinator efficiency ； stigma