James, Katie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3403-3268, Springate, Simon, Harte, Steven J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9628-7912, Farman, Dudley ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3579-3672, Colgan, Richard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0653-5845 and Arnold, Sarah E.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7345-0529 (2024) Buzzing benefits: how multi-species pollination boosts strawberry yield, quality, and nutritional value. Journal of Pollination Ecology, 37 (20). pp. 326-340. ISSN 1920-7603 (doi:10.26786/1920-)

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Abstract

A diverse assemblage of insect visitors can provide functional complementarity within plant pollination due to differences in characteristics such as their physical traits, visitation rate and foraging time of day or year. In a horticultural context, greater functional complementarity may play a crucial role in enhancing fruit yield and quality by improving pollination. We tested whether the identity of the crop pollinators (bumblebee Bombus terrestris and hoverfly Eupeodes corollae) independently and additively influenced commercial strawberry yield, quality, and nutritional parameters such as vitamin C and sugar concentration. Fragaria x ananassa “Malling Champion” plants received pollination treatments of either a) “control”: self-pollination where pollinators were excluded, b) “bee”: bumblebee Bombus terrestris, c) “hoverfly”: Eupeodes corollae, d) “combined”: both B. terrestris and E. corollae. Hoverflies and bumblebees exhibited distinct visitation patterns throughout the day, establishing a functional complementary relationship that enhances pollination success and crop output as well as vitamin C concentrations. Strawberries from plants receiving pollination by bumblebees, or bumblebees and hoverflies combined, had higher yields of higher marketable quality. They also had measurably higher vitamin C content than strawberries from plants pollinated by hoverflies alone, or the control (self-pollinating) plants. This study advances our understanding of niche complementarity and its impact on fruit yield and quality. By elucidating the behavioural and temporal dynamics of pollinators, we provide valuable insights for optimizing pollination strategies in agricultural contexts. Our findings highlight the significance of behavioural factors, such as handling time and number of visits, in determining fruit quality.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	strawberry, pollination,, hoverflies, bumble bee, vitamin C, niche complementarity, fruit production
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QL Zoology S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Sustainable Agriculture 4 One Health Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Centre for Sustainable Agriculture 4 One Health > Behavioural Ecology
Related URLs:	Publisher
Last Modified:	19 Dec 2024 18:08
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/48984

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