Author
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Cane, James |
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Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2005 Publication Date: 10/3/2005 Citation: Cane, J.H. 2005. Pollination potential of the bee Osmia aglaia for cultivated raspberries and blackberries (Rubus: Rosaceae). Hortscience. 40:1705-1708. Interpretive Summary: The manageable cavity-nesting bee Osmia aglaia (Apiformes: Megachilidae) was evaluated as a pollinator of red raspberry. Floral visits by free-flying honey bees or by less numerous caged O. aglaia yielded berries of equivalent size (weight and drupelet counts) that were superior in size to berries from unvisited flowers. Female O. aglaia readily visited flowers of diverse blackberry cultivars too. For all cultivated Rubus tested, these females invariably collected pollen while pivoting atop the brush of pistils, maximizing opportunities for pollen transfer. Within its range in western Oregon and California, this effective native pollinator of Rubus could be sustainably managed bee for cultivated cane fruits. Technical Abstract: The manageable cavity-nesting bee Osmia aglaia (Apiformes: Megachilidae) was evaluated as a pollinator of red raspberry. Floral visits by free-flying honey bees or by less numerous caged O. aglaia yielded berries of equivalent size (weight and drupelet counts) that were superior in size to berries from unvisited flowers. Female O. aglaia readily visited flowers of diverse blackberry cultivars too. For all cultivated Rubus tested, these females invariably collected pollen while pivoting atop the brush of pistils, maximizing opportunities for pollen transfer. Within its range in western Oregon and California, this effective native pollinator of Rubus could be sustainably managed bee for cultivated cane fruits. |
