The importance of a single floral visit of Xylocopa olivacea Fabricius and Apis mellifera adansonii Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the pollination and the yields of Sesamum indicum Linnaeus (Pedaliaceae) in Maroua, Cameroon

Abstract

To assess the pollination efficiency of a bee visit on the sesame; the research were conducted in Maroua-Cameroon. Three treatments were used on each 60 randomly-selected plants. These included Autonomous Self-Pollination (ASP) with flowers protected from insect’s visit, flowers that received a Single Bee Visit (SBV) of Xylocopa olivacea Fabricius (SB1V) and Apis mellifera adansonii Latreille (SB2V). They developed and elaborated behaviour when they collected the nectar and/or pollen. These insects were effective pollinators; they shake flowers and this movement could facilitate the liberation of pollen by anthers, for the optimal occupation of the stigma and of course their visits increase yield of sesame. Impact of X. olivacea and A. m. adansonii visits in sesame yield is estimated at 74.85 % and 73.60%, 17.07 % and 16.98%, 21.74 % and 17.11 % and 65.65 % and 59.46 % respectively for the fruiting rate, seeds/fruit, seed weight and normal seeds. To improve the yield of Sesamum indicum Linnaeus, conservation or installation of X. olivacea nests and A. m. adansonii colonies close to sesame fields is recommended.