Effect of Pollination on Qualitative Characteristics of Rapeseed (Brassica campestris L. var. toria) Seed in Chitwan, Nepal

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect
of pollination on seed quality of rapeseed in Chitwan, Nepal during
2012-2013. The experiment was designed in Randomized Complete
Block with four replications and five treatments. The rapeseed plots
were caged with mosquito nets at 10% flowering except natural
pollination. Two-framed colonies of Apis mellifera L. and Apis
cerana F. were introduced separately for pollination, and control plot
caged without pollinators. The highest germination percent was
observed on Apis cerana F. pollinated plot seeds (90.50%
germination) followed by Apis mellifera L. pollinated plots (87.25 %)
and lowest on control plots (42.00% germination) seeds. Similarly,
seed test weight of Apis cerana F. pollinated plots (3.22 gm/ 1000
seed) and Apis mellifera L. pollinated plots (2.93 gm/1000 seed) were
and lowest on control plots (2.26 gm/ 1000 seed) recorded. Likewise,
oil content was recorded highest on pollinated by Apis cerana F.
(36.1%) followed by pollinated by Apis mellifera L. (35.4%) and
lowest on control plots (32.8%). This study clearly indicated
pollination increases the seed quality of rapeseed and therefore,
management of honeybee is necessary for producing higher quality of
rapeseed under Chitwan condition.

• R. Pudasaini
• R. B. Thapa
• P. R. Poudel

• Apis cerana
• Apis mellifera
• rapeseed pollination
• seed quality.

[1] MoAC, ‘Statistical information on Nepalese agriculture.’ Government of
Nepal Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives Agri-Business
Promotion and Statistics Division Singha Durbar, Kathmandu. Nepal.
pp. 79, 2011/2012.
[2] I. H. Williams, ‘The dependence of crop production within the European
Union on pollination by honey bees.’ Agricultural Zoology and Reviews,
vol. 6, pp. 229-257, 1994.
[3] H. K., Sharma, J. K. Gupta and J. R. Thakur, ‘Effect of bee pollination
and pollinators proportion on apple productivity.’Ac. Hort. vol. 66, no.
2, 2451-454, 2004.
[4] L. R. Verma, ‘Beekeeping in integrated mountain development:
Economic and scientific perspectives.” ICIMOD senior fellowship
Series, No. 4 Oxford and IBH Publishing Company. Private. Limited,
New Delhi, India, 1990.
[5] W. E. Robinson and R. A. Morse, “The value of honeybees as
pollinators of US crops.” American Bee Journal vol. 129, no. 1, pp. 477-
487, 1989.
[6] G. C. Dhakal, ‘A comparative study of Apis cerana F. and Apis mellifera
L. on pollination of Brassica campestris Var. toria and Fagopyrum
esculentum M. at Rampur, Chitwan.” M. Sc. Entomology Thesis TU.
IAAS Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. pp. 76, 2003.
[7] U. Partap, and T. Partap, ‘Managed crop pollination.’ The missing
dimension of mountain crop productivity. Discussion Paper Series No.
MFS 97/1, ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1997.
[8] R. B. Thapa, ‘Honeybee and other insect pollinators of cultivated plants:
A review.’ Journal of Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, vol.
27, pp. 1-23, 2006.
[9] R. C. Sihag, ‘Management of bees for pollination.’ In: M. Matska, L. R.
Verma, S. Wongsiri, K. K. Shrestha and U. Partap (eds.) Asian Bees and
Beekeeping-Progress of Research and Development. Proceedings of
Fourth Asian Apicultural Association International Conference,
Kathmandu. March 23-28, 1998. Oxford and IBH Publishing Company,
Private Limited, New Delhi, India, 2000.
[10] M. Kasina, M. Kraemer, C. Martius and D. Wittmann, ‘Diversity and
activity density of bees visiting crop flowers in Kakamega, western
Kenya.’ Journal of Apicultural Research, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 134-139,
2009.
[11] FAO, ‘Protocol to detect and assess pollination deficits in crops: a
handbook for its use.’ Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome Italy.
pp. 82, 2011.
[12] NARC, ‘Introduction of trained bees, Apis mellifera L. for quality seed
and higher seed on mustard, Brassica campestris Var. toria in Nepalese
condition. ‘Annual Technical Report 2006-2007. Entomology Division,
Nepal Agriculture Research Council. Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. pp.
27-32, 2008.
[13] P. G. Kevan, and D. Eisikowitch, ‘The effect of insect pollination on
canola (Brassica napus L. cv. O.A.C. Triton) seed germination.’
Euphytica, vol. 45, pp. 39-41, 1990.
[14] U. Partap, and L. R. Verma, ‘Pollination of radish by Apis cerana F.’
Journal of Apiculture Research, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 237-24, 2010.
[15] L. R. Verma, and U. Partap, ‘Foraging behavior of Apis cerana indica on
cauliflower and cabbage and its impact on seed production.’ Journal
Apiculture Research, vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 231-236, 1994.
[16] H. N. Sattigi, D. W. Rajasekhar, and K. A. Kulkarni, ‘Effect of
attractants in enhancing the productivity of watermelon.’ Paper
presented at the National Symposium on Environment and Evolutionary
Biology. pp. 24, 2001.
[17] G. S. Guruprasad, ‘Maximization of niger productivity through
enhancement of bee pollination.’ M. Sc. Agriculture Thesis, University
of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India, 2001.
[18] B. S. Patil, ‘Role of bee attractants in enhancing productivity and quality
of sesame.’ M. Sc. Agriculture Thesis, University of Agricultural
Sciences, Dharwad India. pp. 93. 1999.
[19] S. Murasing, ‘Role of bee attractants in pollination and productivity of
mustard (Brassica juncea L.)’ M. Sc. Agriculture Thesis, University of
Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. India, 2000.
[20] A. N. Mahmood, and B. Furgula. ‘Effect of pollination by insects on
seed oil percentage of oil seed sunflower.’American Bee Journal,vol 129, no. 9, 663-667, 1983.
[21] M. Rajasri, K. Kanakadurga, V. R. Durga., and C. Anuradha,
‘Honeybees potential pollinators in hybrid seed production of
sunflower.” International Journal of Applied Biology and Pharmalogy
Technology, vol. 3, no. 2, 216-22, 2012.
[22] M. Kumar, H. Chand, R. Singh, and M. Ali, ‘Effect of different modes
of honeybee pollination on oil content in seeds of sunflower (Helianthus
annus L.).’ Journal of Entomology Research, vol. 26, no. 3, 219-221,
2002.
[23] D. Rajagopal, R. N. Kanchraddi, and N. Nagraja, ‘Utilization of
honeybees in sunflower hybrid seed production.’ In: M. Matska, L. R.
Verma, S. Wongsiri, K. K. Shrestha and U. Partap (eds.). Proceedings of
Fourth Asian Bees and Beekeeping-Progress of Research and
Development. Proceeding of Fourth Asian Apicultural Association
International Conference, Kathmandu. March 23-28, 1998. Oxford and
IBH Publication Company Private Limited, India. pp. 283, 2000.
[24] S. N. Kulkarni, and B. K. Dhanorkar., ‘Effect of Apis cerana indica on
niger seed production in Marathawada region.’ Paper presented at FAO
Workshop on Sustainable Bee Keeping Development, Dharwad, 1-5
August, 1998.
[25] R. C. Mishra, and J. K. Gupta. ‘The effect of mode of pollination on
yield and oil potential of Brassica campestris L. var. sarson with
observation on insect pollinators.’ Journal of Apiculture Research 27
(3): 186-189, 1888.