Agrotechnology

Study of pollinator activity in Cho-cho Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw crop

2^nd International Conference on Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Hyderabad, India February 03-05, 2014

M A Rashmi, Gandhi Gracy R, Vinutha T M and Bhat N S

Posters: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

Cho-cho Sechium edule is grown in the traditional way on family plots and in backyards and vegetable gardens. Pollination is mainly entomogamous. The present investigations on the pollination benefits in Chow- chow crop was carried out from December 2011 to February 2012 at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bangalore. The crop was on the pendal. The treatments taken up were 1. Hand pollination, 2. Afternoon bagged & removed in the evening, 3. Morning bagged & removed in the afternoon, 4. Completely open. It was observed that eight species of insects visited flowers of chow chow during different period of time in day. Of these, majority species belonged to the order Hymenoptera (Apidae, Halictidae, Specidae, Formicidae and Vespidae) and Dipter (Muscidae). Peak activity of the pollinators of chow chow was found to be at 9 to 11 hours followed by 7 to 9 hours and 11 to 13 hours and the activity was found very low at 17 to 18 hours. Major pollinators of the chow chow flower were Trigona sp followed by Apis cerena . Highest percent of fruit set (88.89%) and fruit weight (112.33g) was noticed when the flowers were fully opened and followed by T3 that is when the flowers were bagged in the afternoon 85.15% and 103g respectively.