Potential Pollinators of Gossypium hirsutum L.

The present investigations are being carried out during the period 2005-2007 at Amravati. In Gossypium hirsutum L. the investigation was done on different aspect of pollination. The plant species were visited daily or on alternate day to record the pollinators activity. The pollen production was found to be 13774.22 + 1223.67 to 15299.69 + 1383.88. The pollen ovule ratio was found to be 550.96 to 1235.49. The pollen viability was measured to be 93.58 to 96.54 %. The main pollinators were Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Trigona spp. , Halictidae fly and red colour bee (unidentified), thrips, grass hopper, red beetle and ants. The bees were more active during the morning hours i. e. from 09.00 hrs. to 13.30 hrs. In the afternoon the visitors activity was found to be very less. From 15.30 hrs to 17.30 hrs. The bees visited 1 to 6 flowers in a single bout. The maximum pollen load carried out by A. florea 7245.8- 8445.8. However, less pollen load carried out by Trigona spp.442.6-762.3 and Halictidae 493.1-577.4, whereas small size black bee (unidentified) carried out 1831.5 pollen. The effect of different treatments on the yield in terms of dry weight of cotton with seeds was found to be 297.17 to 412.68 gm in self-pollination, 336.58 to 518.16 gm in open-pollination and 379.57 to 637.18 gm in insect-pollination In the present investigation it was found wild pollinator play important role for higher seed yield in G. hirsutum