Role of pollinators in vegetable seed production

Abstract

This paper reviews a role of pollinator’s in vegetable seed production and commercial production of large numbers of colonies for the pollination. The pollination phase has a significant impact on final seed yield and quality. The most reliable and efficient form of pollination is through insects. Though butterflies, moths, beetles, thrips, birds play a role in pollination, honey bees are the ideal pollinators. Many insects such as honey bees (Apis mellifera, A. cerana), bumble bees (Bombus haemorrhoidalis, B. terrestris) and flies are the important pollinators which are in commercial use. Low seed yield due to inadequate pollination is often faced as a major problem in vegetable seed production. There is a need to ensure pollination by conserving the pollinators and attracting them towards the crop land. The pollination potential and economic importance of the effect of honeybees on these vegetables is still need to be established.