Pollination
Pollination
Important Terms
 Pollination – transfer of pollen
– Self or cross
 Fertilization – union of ♂ & ♀
(ovule) nuclei
 Fruiting – development of
fleshy part around zygote
 Seed dispersal – distribution
of mature seeds from parent
Flower Anatomy
Pollination=
Pollen transfer
stigma
style
Connor photo
Fertilization = nuclei union
petals
sepals
Flower variation
 Flowers may have pollen
– Ripening w/ ovules or before
– On anthers below flowers or outside
 Flowers may be staminate (pollen only) or
pistillate (ovule but no pollen)
 Plants may be monoecious (2 flower types)
– Corn (tassel at top = pollen; silk at ear =stigma)
 Plants may be dioecious (♀& ♂ plants)
– Holly trees may have berries (♀) or pollen flowers (♂)
Pollinators
 Wind
 Water
 Animals
–
–
–
–
–
–
insects
mammals
spiders
kangaroos
humans
+ others
birds
monkeys
bats
mites
Human as pollinators
 Hand applied pollen
– dates (since agriculture began)
– vanilla
 Greenhouses
(using vibrating toothbrushes)
 Apply temporary aids
– pollen inserts
– bouquets
 No ‘solution-in-a-bottle’ yet
Insect Pollination






ants
aphids
beetles
butterflies
bees
+ many others
flies/midges
mosquitoes
moths
thrips
wasps
The Big 3 underlined
Insect-pollinated Flowers






Produce lots of pollen
Secrete sweet smelling, sugary nectar
Come in colors
Grow at conspicuous locations on plant
Feature broken patterns
Wave in the wind
Bee Pollination
4 widely used bees in commercial pollination
Bumble Bee
Honey Bee
Alkali Bee
Leafcutting Bee
ALSO: BOB (blue orchard bee); hornfaced bee, carpenter bee; pollen bees
Managing Colonies for Pollination
 Queenright
 Forager bee strong
 Expanding brood
population
 Limited super space
 Minimum strength
 No swarming
 Dry & in sun
 Distributed in crop
 Moved in & out promptly
How many?
 Varies w/ crop
 Varies w/ beekeeper
 75%+ col minimum strength
– For example cucumber in eastern US
 1 col for every 3-4 acres (small fields near woods)
 1-3 col/acre (larger fields in agricultural area)
 2 col/acre (high density)
 1 bee/100 flowers
 1 col/50,000 plants (w/ appropriate ♂/♀ ratio)
Pollination Contracts
 Number & strength of colonies




Plan of colony distribution
Time of delivery and removal
Beekeepers right of entry
Degree of protection from
pesticides
 Plan for payment(s)
 Penalities for poor
colonies/service
 Bonus for excellent service
Pollination
 4 “major” crops
–
–
–
–




Alfalfa seed
Almond
Fruits apples, berries, etc)
Vegetables (+ seeds)
Over 90 crops
Value . $14 billion annually
1/3rd of our diet from bee pollinated crops
Increasing, not diminishing, demand
Fruit trees
 Traditional rental income
– Pears
– Apples
– Cherries
– others
 Early bloom in season – set of ‘king’ bloom
 Bees often insurance for bad weather year
 Other fruit major nectar source
– citrus
Pollination
Poor Pollination
Desired Pollination
References:
Images:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/3573675917_ace3fc0e28.jpg?v=0
http://www.bio.miami.edu/muchhala/Bat-Flower%20Photos/A_geo_Meriania.jpg
http://williamthecoroner.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/bumblebee-onpavement.jpg
http://sarahmeyerwalsh.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/honeybee.jpghttp:/
www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/insects/bees/leafcutting_b
ee/
http://www.jimirving.com/images/galleries/beeboxes-3.jpg
http://www.biology-blog.com/images/blogs/10-2006/Pollinator-2-Raspberry.jpg
http://biology.unm.edu/ccouncil/Biology_203/Images/FloweringPlants/Angiolifecycle.jpeg
http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pi/images/bee.jpg
http://www.plantstogrow.com/botany/fact_pages/images_2/anther-02crcm.jpg
http://www.northernimages.com/photos/242820235_n5tsi-M.jpg
http://208.113.167.239/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/bee-cherry-blossoms.jpg
http://www.ojibway.ca/p_leucop.jpg
http://illinois.sierraclub.org/calumet/Species/GrassPinkOrchid.jpg
www.gettyimages.com