The Effect of Honeybee and Bumblebee Pollination and Natural Pollinators on Cherry Fruit Set and Quality

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted in Kemalpa？a, ？zmir, on 0900 Agriculture (Salihli) cherry species, between 2015 and 2016 with the aim of identifying the effect of the visits of the honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) and bombus bees (Bombus terrestris dalmatinus) to cherry blossoms on their fruit set and quality. The study was carried out in three enclosed (3.8 mm x 3.8 mm porous tulle) parcels, each containing 8 trees (24 in total), and in free implementation fashion. On the branches on which implementations were made, blossom counts were performed, the blossoms were enclosed in tulle and the pollinators were brought to the orchard prior to blossoming. As well as the honey bees and the bombus bees, other insects were counted during the blossoming. In order to identify the effects of the implementations on the fruit set and quality, pomological analysis was done on the harvested fruit. An evaluation of the data obtained after the two-year trial reveals approximately a three-fold difference in terms of fruit set between open and enclosed implementation. The honey bee pollination produced a fruit set of 14.1% in open implementation and 4.5% in enclosed implementation. With natural pollinators, the fruit set was 5.9% in open implementation and 1.5% in enclosed implementation. A statistically significant effect of the pollinator implementation on seed weight and stem length was, which are pomological features of the fruit, was not found. In terms of fruit breadth, length and weight, however, a difference between implementations existed (P<0.05). Eventually, it has been put forward that pollinators should be used in order to increase the fruitfulness in cherry orchards and prevent the lack of pollinator