Diversity of Insect Pollinators in Reference to Seed Set of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Abstract

Brassica juncea is a self-incompatible crop due to which flowers cannot utilize their own pollen which needs biological agents like different insect groups for transfer of the pollen from male flowers to female flowers

Pollinator Insects and their Impact on Crop Yield of Mustard in Kusma, Parbat, Nepal

“…The mean thousand weight of mustard seed was significantly more in open modes of pollination (3.11 and 3.12 g) followed by in hand pollination (2.95 and 2.98 g) during 2015 and 2016. The lowest mean thousand seed weight (2.36 g) was recorded in pollinator's exclusion over the two years of study (Devi et al 2017). The results of the present investigation also corroborate the observations made by Singh and Singh (1992) who reported that insectpollinated plots produced three times heavier seed then self-pollinated plants in B. campestris.…”

“…There was a significant difference in number of seeds per pod, the diameter of seeds and weight of 100 dry seeds between treatment and control plot. These findings are similar to Devi et al (2017) who revealed that the seeds per pod and 1000 seed weight were significantly higher in open pollination (15.49 and 15.59 seeds per pod) followed by hand pollination (14.25 and 14.18 seeds per pod) during 2015 and 2016, respectively. Significantly less seed 12.16 and 12.14 seeds per pod were recorded in pollinators' exclusion over the two years of study.…”

“…Similar results on insect visitors were reported by Dhakal (2003) on the rapeseed field in which five orders of insect were recorded, and Hymenoptera was the most abundant. Devi et al (2017) also recorded a total of 88 insects belonging to 63 genera under 31 families and nine orders visiting mustard flowers, among which, Hymenoptera was the most abundant. But low species number in the present study may be due to the fact that research was carried out for one season only compared to two years research of Devi et al (2017).…”

“…Devi et al (2017) also recorded a total of 88 insects belonging to 63 genera under 31 families and nine orders visiting mustard flowers, among which, Hymenoptera was the most abundant. But low species number in the present study may be due to the fact that research was carried out for one season only compared to two years research of Devi et al (2017). The results of the present investigation also follow similar trends as reported by early workers.…”

“…This process was continued until the end of flowering. The number of seed per pod was counted before harvest to estimate the effect of pollination on the number of seeds per pod and to find the effect of pollination on fruit set following formula as shown in equation 1was used as adopted by Devi et al (2017). The diameter of seed was measured using Axminster vernier calliper made from stainless steel with clear metric and imperial graduations.…”