Role of pollinators in enhancing pod and seed set of Arachis hypogaea Variety 28-206 (Fabaceae) at Tchabal-Mounguel (Ngaoundere, Cameroon)
Mazi Sanda, Kingha Tekombo BM, Deli Kodji Pra, Faibawa E, Tchuenguem Fohouo FN and Brückner D
Flowers of Arachis hypogaea were observed at Tchabal-Mounguel, in 2017 in order to study the activity of major pollinators and to evaluate their impact on pod and seed yields. Investigations focused on two treatments differentiated by the presence or absence of protection on flowers. Insect’s foraging behavior, pollinator activity, fruiting rate, number of seeds per pod, and percentage of normal seeds were evaluated. The mean duration of one visit per flower varies from 18.67 sec to 68.32 sec; the mean foraging speed varies from 1.99 flowers/min to 5.15 flowers/min. By comparing the yield of unprotected flowers to those protected from insect visits, it appears a significant increase in fruiting rate of 15.09%, mean seed per pod of 3.94%, percentage of seed per pod of 24.81% and the percentage of seed weight of 9.09% due to flowering insects. To improve pod and seed yields of A. hypogaea, it is advisable to construct nesting sites for Halictidae in or near the fields of this Fabaceae.
Mazi Sanda, Kingha Tekombo BM, Deli Kodji Pra, Faibawa E, Tchuenguem Fohouo FN, Brückner D. Role of pollinators in enhancing pod and seed set of Arachis hypogaea Variety 28-206 (Fabaceae) at Tchabal-Mounguel (Ngaoundere, Cameroon). J Entomol Zool Stud 2019;7(1):1521-1528.