Benefits of Entomophile Pollination in Crops of Brassica napus and Aspects of Plant Floral Biology

Abstract

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) is an oleaginous species of the Brassicaceae family, being the third most produced oleaginous in the world. Rapeseed can produce fruits and seeds from both self-pollination and cross-pollination. However, cross-pollination rate is approximately 30% and may suffer variations due to the abundance and diversity of pollinator insects, cultivar and meteorological conditions. Different researchers have reported that pollination by insects, especially Apis mellifera honeybee, on rapeseed flowers provides an increase in productivity, improving yield and contributing to the uniformity and initial pod establishment. It is estimated that the economic value of A. mellifera honeybees for rapeseed cultivation in Brazil is US$ 8.2 million. The objective of this chapter is gathering data for a compilation of information regarding rapeseed culture and the importance of A. mellifera in Brassica napus pollination.

Benefits of Insect Pollination in Brassicaceae: A Meta-Analysis of Self-Compatible and Self-Incompatible Crop Species

“…In Ireland, the benefit of insect pollination to B. napus yield has been estimated at EUR 3.9 million per year [20]. In Brazil, the benefit of honeybees to B. napus yield is above USD 8 million [21]. The potential benefit of pollination is most important in cruciferous crops in which the harvest consists of seeds and fruits When one publication included research conducted with several cultivars, the study was considered as one, unless the cultivars had for some reason been studied separately (see publications listed in Table 2).…”