Role of insect visits on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) yield

Abstract

The foraging activities of insect visitors on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were studied. The insect visitors in decreasing order of abundance were: Formica sp.>Apis mellifera>Apis cerana>syrphids≥Apis dorstata. The activity of insects was peaked at 08.00-09.00 am. The foraging behaviour of A. mellifera was also studied. The bees spent significantly more time per flower during morning hours (sec/flower) and foraged significantly fewer flowers (7.9 flowers/min) compared to evening hours. There were significantly more nectar foragers (6.03/m²/10 min) than pollen foragers (5.16/m²/10 min). Most pollen foragers were observed during morning hours (6.59/m²/10 min) whereas nectar foragers were most active during noon hours (6.63/m²/10 min). Highest fruit set was observed in hand pollination (70.68%). Percentage of misshapen fruits was maximum in without honey bee pollination (24.35%). Without honey bee pollination resulted in significantly lowest percentage of healthy fruits (75.25%). Hand pollination ranked highest among the three forms of pollination in respective of fruits (985.13 g), number of seeds per fruit (425.22), fruit diameter (27.1 cm), fruit length (26.7 cm) and weight of 1000-seeds (28.64 g).

Arboreal Entomophagous Arthropods of Rice Insect Pests Inhabiting Adaptive Vegetables and Refugia in Freshwater Swamps of South Sumatra

“…Cowpeas are inhabited by 21 insect species of 12 families and 5 orders (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Homoptera, and Lepidoptera) (Niba, 2011). Cucumbers are visited by 11 insect species of 7 families and 3 orders (Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera) (Hossain, Yeasmin, Rahman, Akhtar, & Hasnat, 2018). Ridged gourds are inhabited by 6 insect species of 3 families and 2 orders (Hymenoptera and Diptera), while bitter melons are visited by 4 insect species of 3 families and 2 orders (Bodlah & Waqar, 2013).…”

Insects Associated with Cucumbers (Cucumis SativusL.) At Bamunka-Ndop(North West Region, Cameroon)

“…The male flowers appear first and in considerably larger number than the female flowers and those male flowers usually appear 10 days before the first female flower appears (Judson, 1929). Both flowers produce nectar that attracts pollinator insects (Shah et al, 2015;Hossain et al, 2018). The female flowers produce higher volume of nectar as compared to male flowers, but sugar concentration is larger in male flowers of cucumber (Shah et al, 2015).…”

“…The female flowers produce higher volume of nectar as compared to male flowers, but sugar concentration is larger in male flowers of cucumber (Shah et al, 2015). The plant typically produces small amount of pollen which are sticky and suitable for pollination by bees (Hossain et al, 2018). The stigma is receptive during the day but much more receptive early in the morning (Collins, 2007).…”

“…The major pollinators of cucumber belong mainly to the order Hymenoptera (Dorjav et al, 2017).When incomplete pollination occurs; fruits do not develop properly (Hodges & Baxendale, 1991). Therefore, inadequate pollination results in small or misshapen fruit and low yield of marketable fruits (Hossain et al, 2018).…”

“…Cucumber has tremendous economic and dietetic importance (Hossain et al, 2018). According to FAO (2018), Cameroon rank 17 th with a total production of 319.616 tons.…”