Impact of honey bee pollination on oilseed production of rapeseed-mustard (Brassica spp.)

Abstract

Pollination is necessary for food grain production and sustaining human life. Absence of adequate pollination results in to reduced crop yields and higher percentage of inferior fruit set. Rapeseed mustard (Brassica spp.) is widely grown and one of the most important oil seed crop of India and world. Large number of insects pollinators has reported visits on the bloom of Brassica spp. Present study review the nature of pollination and role of pollinators in Brassica spp. Result suggests, some Brassica spp. are self-fertile, while many are self- incompatible and require cross pollination to set seed. Wide variety of insect pollinators has reported to visit Brassica spp., however, honey bee are most common visitors. In absence of open and bee pollination, the seed yield can be reduced from 11.5% to 44.5%. This yield reduction might be due to reduction yield attribute characters of the plant.