Foraging and pollination effectiveness of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. 1843 (Fabaceae) in Yaounde-Cameroon

Authors

  • Cyril Roméo Heumou Department of Biology, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Bamenda, Cameroon
  • Joseph Blaise Pando Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon
  • Denis Djonwangwe Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Maroua, Cameroon
  • Fernand-Nestor Tchuenguem Fohouo Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
  • Joseph Lebel Tamesse Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon

Keywords:

Vigna unguiculata, flowers, Apis mellifera, pollination, yields

Abstract

Experiments were made in Yaoundé to determine the effects of Apis mellifera visit on the pollination and the productivity of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata. Two treatments for each experiment were used on 40 randomly-selected plants each. These included Autonomous Self-Pollination (ASP) with flowers from which insects visit, with airborne pollen flow excluded (treatments 1 and 3), flowers that received a single bee visit (SBV) of A. mellifera (treatments 2 and 4). This honey bee mainly foraged for nectar and pollen resources. The mean foraging speed was 11.55 flowers/min and the duration of visits was 10.94 sec to collect nectar and pollen. All flowers produced pod with or without insect visits. Apis melliferai was effective pollinator, and of course their visits increased pod production (fruiting rate), number of seeds (number of seeds/pod) and normal seed (percentage of normal seed). Apis mellifera foraging resulted in a significant increment of the fruiting rate by 31.18 %, as well as the number of seeds/pod by 29.97 % and the percentage of normal seeds by 15.46 % in the two years in Yaounde. Conservation of A. mellifera colonies close to V. unguiculata fields could be recommended to increase pod and seed production in the region.

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Published

2023-02-14

How to Cite

[1]
C. R. Heumou, J. B. Pando, D. Djonwangwe, F.-N. Tchuenguem Fohouo, and J. L. Tamesse, “Foraging and pollination effectiveness of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. 1843 (Fabaceae) in Yaounde-Cameroon”, J. Appl. Entomol., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 20–25, Feb. 2023.

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2023)

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Articles

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