Pollinators diversity and pollination effects on yield attributes of sunflower (Helianthus annuus Linnaeus) in Odisha, India

Abstract

In the study on the diversity of pollinators and their pollination efficiency in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under field condition of Odisha during 2021-22, recorded 18 species of pollinators. Indian honeybee, Apis cerana indica F. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) was found to be the major one among the insect pollinators. The experiment conducted for two years with three different treatments viz., open pollination (OP), managed A. cerana indica pollination (HB) and pollinator exclusion (PE) for better yield and quality revealed that both quantitative and qualitative parameters were significantly higher in OP sunflower crops followed by crops pollinated by A. cerana indica. Significantly higher seed yield, 1000 seed weight, percentage of seed filling and number of seed per capitulum were recorded in these treatments. These findings indicate OP and HB increase 33 per cent more yield in sunflower.