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<p>Insect pollinators contribute significantly to global crop production by enhancing pollination efficiency, directly influencing fruit set, seed production, and overall crop yield. Brinjal (<i>Solanum melongena</i> L.), an often-cross-pollinated vegetable, relies on buzz pollination by bees for optimal reproductive success. This study evaluates the diversity, abundance, and impact of insect pollinators on brinjal productivity under two conditions during and after mass flowering crops (MFC) such as <i>Mangifera indica</i> in the Malda district, West Bengal, India. Over a three-year period (2020–2022), pollinator visitation, fruit set (%), seed number/fruit/site, seed weight(g), and total fruit yield were monitored across 14 brinjal fields to assess the impact of pollinators on crop yield. Our findings revealed that 5357 bees visited brinjal flowers during MFC, while 4511 bees were recorded after mass flowering crop (MFC), indicating a significant decline (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) in pollinator abundance after mass flowering (MFC). Among pollinators, Apidae bees, including <i>Xylocopa</i> sp., <i>Apis dorsata, and Apis cerana</i>, were dominant and played a crucial role in enhancing brinjal yield. The fruit set percentage was significantly higher during MFC (86.58%) compared to after MFC (82.92%) (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), while the total fruit weight per site decreased significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) from 16,312.64&#xa0;g during MFC to 14,293.79&#xa0;g after MFC. Additionally, seed number per fruit was significantly greater (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001) in fields influenced by MFC, emphasizing the importance of insect-mediated pollination in improving brinjal productivity. The adoption of pollinator friendly agricultural practices including maintaining MFC, minimizing pesticide use, and preserving native pollinator habitats, is essential for ensuring long-term crop sustainability and global food security.</p>

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Influence of Insect Pollinators and Mass-Flowering Crop (Mangifera indica) on Yield and Productivity of Brinjal (Solanum melongena) in an Eastern Indian Agricultural Landscape

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年5月28日

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  • Amir Khan,
  • Parthiba Basu

摘要

Insect pollinators contribute significantly to global crop production by enhancing pollination efficiency, directly influencing fruit set, seed production, and overall crop yield. Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), an often-cross-pollinated vegetable, relies on buzz pollination by bees for optimal reproductive success. This study evaluates the diversity, abundance, and impact of insect pollinators on brinjal productivity under two conditions during and after mass flowering crops (MFC) such as Mangifera indica in the Malda district, West Bengal, India. Over a three-year period (2020–2022), pollinator visitation, fruit set (%), seed number/fruit/site, seed weight(g), and total fruit yield were monitored across 14 brinjal fields to assess the impact of pollinators on crop yield. Our findings revealed that 5357 bees visited brinjal flowers during MFC, while 4511 bees were recorded after mass flowering crop (MFC), indicating a significant decline (p < 0.001) in pollinator abundance after mass flowering (MFC). Among pollinators, Apidae bees, including Xylocopa sp., Apis dorsata, and Apis cerana, were dominant and played a crucial role in enhancing brinjal yield. The fruit set percentage was significantly higher during MFC (86.58%) compared to after MFC (82.92%) (p < 0.01), while the total fruit weight per site decreased significantly (p < 0.001) from 16,312.64 g during MFC to 14,293.79 g after MFC. Additionally, seed number per fruit was significantly greater (p < 0.0001) in fields influenced by MFC, emphasizing the importance of insect-mediated pollination in improving brinjal productivity. The adoption of pollinator friendly agricultural practices including maintaining MFC, minimizing pesticide use, and preserving native pollinator habitats, is essential for ensuring long-term crop sustainability and global food security.