Mcgregor apiculturist, retired, agricultural research service western region, tucson, ariz. Agriculture provides habitat and forage for pollinating insects, and therefore contributes. But bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hover flies also play an important role. Impact of insect pollinators on yield and fruit quality of. Crop pollination by wild pollinators is an ecosystem service of immense value to modern agriculture. Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants bees for babar. Importance of pollinators in changing landscapes for world crops. Only insects are demonstrated pollinators of the single crops, while vertebrates pollinate very few commodity crops e. Mar 30, 2010 the western honey bee apis mellifera plays a crucial role for united states agriculture because it provides pollination for a large number of crops. It has been estimated that the total annual economic value of crop pollination worldwide is about 153 billion gallai et al. More than 3,500 species of native bees help increase crop yields. Maintaining enough insect pollinators is therefore vital for biodiversity and a diverse food supply. The angiospermsflowering plants that produce seeds often enclosed within an edible fruitare among the planets most successful life forms.
Mcgregor, usda originally published 1976 the first and only virtual beekeeping book updated continously. Jun 14, 2012 thirtyfive percent of global production from crops including at least 800 cultivated plants depend on animal pollination. Uses strawberry clover is mainly used for pasture and in mixtures with grass for hay and silage. In a study of the beekeeping industry, anderson 1969 concluded that the decline in the number of colonies of honey bees from 5. Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants x38 rossman. Where no nectar is produced, only pollencollecting insects would be of value to the blossom. Thus, saturation pollination is an important consideration if uniform melons are to be produced. Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants usdaars managing alternative pollinators. For each crop, we recorded abundance and species richness of. Insect pollinators and sustainable agriculture american. Globally, an estimated 35% of crop production is a result of insect pollination. The transformation of agriculture in the past halfcentury has triggered a decline in bees and other insect pollinators.
Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants, agriculture handbook number 196, arsusda out of print. Letter insect pollination is at least as important for marketable crop yield as plant quality in a seed crop thijs p. Another look at the requirements for citrus pollination comes from agriculture handbook 496, by s. Most of them are pollinated in whole or part by honey bees and by the crop s natural pollinators such as bumblebees, orchard bees, squash bees, and solitary bees. A handbook for beekeepers, growers and conservationists sare organic farming practices. Thirtyfive percent of global production from crops including at least 800 cultivated plants depend on animal pollination.
Majority of these plants are used for human food but a few are. Because insect pollination is important to so many angiosperms 2. Pdf insect pollination of mango in northern australia. We selected the leading global crops on the world market out of the fao crop production list for the year 2004 faostat 2005, such that the aggregate represented 99% of total global food production figure 1. Papaya is a dioecious tree crop widely cultivated throughout the tropics. Contribution of insect pollinators to crop yield and quality. About 35% of global crop production arises from crop species that benefit from animal pollination, especially by insects. Pollination has to happen before seeds can be made, so flowers have a range of ways to make sure it does. Since then a large amount of material on pollination has been published, and awareness of the importance of insect pollination has increased, so the appearance of this extensively revised and enlarged edition will be welcomed, especially by agricultural entomologists and crop scientists. Declines in pollinators, particularly in europe and the usa, have provoked claims of a global pollination crisis. Most of the text is devoted to the pollination requirements of cultivated crop plants. Reducing harm to pollinators from farming the xerces society.
The technique involves keeping a larger number of bee colonies than normally maintained for honey production so as to exhaust the preferred plants and ensure visitation of the crop plants by the bees. Insect pollination is at least as important for marketable. Animal pollination can enhance yields and increase fruit quality, but the effects of insect pollination on pre and postharvest fruit physiology and quality are largely unknown. Insect pollination of economically important plants of tropical and subtropical asia. Sunflower, cucurbitaceous vegetables, alfalfa, coriander, cardmom, gingelly, apple etc. We used pollination exclusion on flowers or inflorescences on a whole plant basis 38 to assess the contribution of insect pollination to crop yield and quality in four flowering 39 crops spring oilseed rape, field bean, strawberry, and buckwheat located in four regions of 40 europe.
Boom, 1nicole janssen, ivo raemakers3 and david kleijn1 abstract the sustainability of agriculture can be improved by integrating management of ecosystem ser. Consult the plants web site and your state department of natural resources for this plants. Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants uc anr. Results there are total of 80 plants which are cultivated for the benefit of population of pakistan. Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants agricultural handbook 496 s. This is a list of crop plants pollinated by bees along with how much crop yield is improved by bee pollination. Pollination is a prerequisite to pollen tube development and subsequent fertilization of ovules, leading to seed and fruit setting in flowering plants and insect pollinators play crucial role in.
At present, it is evident that crops cultivated in the tropics are often productive with pollinators that. The primary honey and pollen producing plants of nc. Insect pollinators are also reported to vary from crop to crop from one location to another and during different parts of the year. Importance of pollinators in changing landscapes for world. This document is eny154, one of a series of the entomology and nematology department, ufifas extension. Value of insect pollinators to agriculture of pakistan. Mcgregor in his agricultural handbook insect pollination of cultivated crop plants. Some plants are selfpollinating, others, like the ones listed here, are dependent on other agents like insects, birds, animals, or wind, to give a few examples. Insect pollination as a key factor for strawberry physiology. Potential effects of climate change on crop pollination. If beetles contribute to the pollination of this plant, as knuth p. Role of pollinators in agriculture croplife international. Other considerations also influence fruit set, according to s. Several insects including the bees and other animals like bats are estimated to boost pollination services of 35% of the worlds food crops like mangoes, vegetables and medicinal plants.
The first volume covers the basics in modern day crop pollination with a. The major pollinator dependent crops are fruit and vegetable crops, spices and plantation crops and pulses and oilseed crops. The pollination of cultivated plants a compendium for practitioners food and agriculture organization of volume 1. Usda nrcs idaho plant materials program strawberry clover. Strawberries are commercially cultivated around the world, with europe exhibiting the globally largest cultivated area with strawberries. The potential for insect pollinators to alleviate global pollination deficits and enhance yields of fruit and seed crops. Even less is known about how insect pollination affects crop quality.
Many small flower plants including yarrow, sunflower, alyssum, asters, cosmos, mints, lobelia, basil, stonecrops, thyme, parsley, dill, borage and many other herbs are preferable. Growers might need to substitute insect pollination with alternatives for. Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants archived pdf pollinating fruit crops pdf version archived pdf honey plants of north carolina archived pdf. More than 250,000 species of flowering plants have been described, and an equivalent number could await discovery davies et. Pollination of cultivated plants in the tropics 0 agricultural services bul in issn 101065 118 food and agriculture organization of the united nations. Insect pollinators and sustainable agriculture volume 5 issue 1 peter g. It is well written, precise and will be a very valuable reference book for every beekeeper. Saturation pollination is a pollination technique for agricultural crops in areas dominated by non crop plant species that are preferred by pollinators.
Using honey bees for fruit pollination msu extension. We first estimated the proportion of crop production depending on animal pollination. Honeybees and other insect pollinators of cultivated plants. Fundamentals of pollination ecology volusia county, florida. The western honey bee apis mellifera plays a crucial role for united states agriculture because it provides pollination for a large number of crops. However, basic information on the level of pollinator dependence and pollinator contribution to yield is lacking for many crops.
Ncsu entomologys beekeeping notes what remain of them. In wheat, a selfpollinating crop, pollen normally fertilizes the flower in which it is borne. Mcgregor, titled insect pollination of cultivated crop plants. Many plants, including crops, depend on insects to transfer pollen between flowers.
Valuing insect pollination services with cost of replacement. Economics of plant pollination flowering and fruiting of plants hybrid vigor in plants and its relationship to insect pollination wild bees. Many crops depend on pollination for seed production and fruit set to achieve good yield. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Threefourths of the worlds flowering plants and about 35 percent of the worlds food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce. Plant biodiversity enhances bees and other insect pollinators.
Several crops are dependent on insect pollination, for which the honey bee is normally considered the most important one. Role of pollinators in agriculture fast facts 35% of food crop production worldwide depends on animal pollinators, including honey bees. Chapters are organized by plant type legumes, tree fruits, nuts, clovers, etc. The male pollen cannot move to the female part of a flower on its own, so wind and animals are used to carry it instead.
Contribution of insect pollinators to crop yield and. It may be illustrated here quite simply by comparing two common crop plants, wheat and corn, which differ in their pollination method. In a study of 41 crops worldwide 28, the diversity and abundance of wild insect pollinators proved to be declining in most agricultural landscapes, but the effect on crop yield is still uncertain. Buy insect pollination of cultivated crop plants on free shipping on qualified orders. Of all the pollinator insects, bees are perhaps the most important to crop pollination. Although originally written in 1976, the text is continually updated with new content. According to michigan state university, bees are especially good at pollination because their bodies are covered by stiff hairs that attract pollen electrostatically. In north america, losses of bee colonies have accelerated since 2004, leaving the continent with fewer managed pollinators than at any time in the past. Variety of plantings can be create to provide habitat and food for different insect species and life stages eggs, larvae, pupa and adults. Pollination is the transfer of pollen between plants enabling fertilisation and sexual. Hooper 1932 reported that pollination is carried mainly by insects other than bees and especially by diptera when it is cold. In north america, losses of bee colonies have accelerated since 2004, leaving the continent with fewer managed pollinators than at any. Expert consultation on beekeeping with apis mellifera in tropical and subtropical asia. Pollination by wild insects is underresearched in the tropics, where many crops may require or benefit from wild pollinators.
A compendium for practitioners volume 1 the pollination of cultivated plants. This site is home to an extensive online usda text authored by s. Distance and quality of natural habitat influence hawkmoth. Mcgregor, insect pollination of cultivated crop plants, published. The purpose of this report was to investigate pollination conditions and requirements in cultivated crops. In addition to feeding on nectar, bees collect pollen from flowers to take back to their nests. Where cross pollination is required, use of honey bees remains the most consistent, effective and economical means of ensuring adequate yields. This is a list of crop plants pollinated by bees along with how much crop yield is. The visiting preferences of insects to flowers of different crops differed among.
Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants horticulture. A more accurate value of insect pollination services will improve conservation management decisionmaking capabilities, and consideration of pollination alternatives will assist crop producers. Since then a large amount of material on pollination has been published, and awareness of the importance of insect pollination has increased, so the appearance of this extensively revised and enlarged edition will be welcomed, especially by agricultural entomologists and. Pollinators and agriculture european crop protection. Where the same plants have nonbee pollinators such as birds or other.
Growers might need to substitute insect pollination with alternatives for a number of reasons. Where the same plants have nonbee pollinators such as birds or other insects like flies, these are also indicated. The first edition of this book 1970 was the first single comprehensive volume on the subject in english. Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants agricultural. Request pdf honeybees and other insect pollinators of cultivated plants. Saturation pollination is a pollination technique for agricultural crops in areas dominated by noncrop plant species that are preferred by pollinators. Given that habitat loss and agricultural intensification are known to decrease pollinator richness.