2024, Vol. 7, Special Issue 5

author(s)
Hema Prashad, Priyanka Thakur, Harish Kumar Sharma, Ruchi Sharma, Manju Devi, Kiran Rana and Meena Thakur

abstract
Understanding the importance of effective pollination methods is essential for maximizing apple production, as it directly affects the quantity and quality of the harvest. In this study, we aim to evaluate the impact of managing pollination using Apis mellifera colonies installed with pollen dispenser on fruit set in commercial apple orchards. In the experiment conducted at Mashobra (> 33% pollinizer proportion) and Kullu (< 10% pollinizer proportion) areas of Himachal Pradesh, significantly higher fruit set was recorded, during the year 2020 (74.01, 47.92%) and 2019 (56.60, 48.70%), respectively in apple orchards installed with honey bee colonies and pollen dispenser compared to treatments (orchards without pollen dispenser and without honey bee colonies). To check the field applicability, effect on yield and people’s response the technique was shared with the beekeepers and orchardists of the state during camps and training. This study concludes that pollen dispenser cannot replace the role of honeybees in pollination but certainly adds up to their efficiency combating the fruit set deficit caused by low pollinizer proportion.