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Diversity of Insect Pollinators Associated with Pigeonpea, Cajanus Cajan L

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Diversity of Insect Pollinators Associated with Pigeonpea, Cajanus Cajan L Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(9): 528-535 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 9 (2017) pp. 528-535 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.609.063 Diversity of Insect Pollinators Associated with Pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan L. Mill sp. And Their Impact on Crop Production Ichpal Singh, Uma Shankar*, D.P. Abrol and Amit Mondal Division of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chatha Jammu 180 002 (J&K), India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT The studies were conducted to determine the impact of pollinators on the K e yw or ds production of Pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan L. during 2013-14 and 2014-15. Studies on pollinator complex revealed that C. cajan flowers attracted 15 species of Cajanus cajan, insects belonging to five families, 7 genera and three orders. The insect belongs to Pollinators, Honeybees, order Hymenoptera were most abundant. Of all the bees, megachilid bees were Solitary bees, most abundant and compared more than 50 % of the total flower visiting insects Crop production. followed by honeybees 39.4 % and anthophorid bees 6.6 %. The insects belonging Article Info to order Lepidoptera and Diptera which were reported in very small numbers at interrupted hours. The studies revealed that bee pollination was superior to all Accepted: other treatments in improving qualitative and quantitative parameters of C. cajan 04 July 2017 Available Online: crops in the order: bee pollination > open pollination > hand pollination > self- 10 September 2017 pollination > Carbaryl 50 WP 0.1 % + Open pollination > Imidacloprid 17.8 SL 0.05 % + Open pollination. Introduction In India, more than 80 per cent people depend 1999; Sharma et al., 2006). They are the upon vegetarian food wherein, pulses major sources of dietary protein (Osorio-Diaz constitute a major component of their diet. et al., 2003), essential amino acids and are Pulses occupy an important place in human vital for sustainability of our crop production nutrition, especially among the low-income systems (Tharanathan and Mahadevamma groups of people in developing countries and 2003), soil health and above all for our food constitute the world’s third largest group of security. Tremendous progresses have been plant life which belongs to the Fabaceae or achieved through the technological Leguminosae family. They have miraculous interventions in food grain production but properties like high nutritional value and low such a progress is yet to be achieved in water requirements, ability to self-fertilize, production of pulses. Keeping in view the improving soil and crops health by fixing importance of pulses very recently, FAO has nitrogen contents and above all maintaining celebrated (2015) as the International Year of the health benefits to the people (Kannaiyan, Pulses to raise the pulse production to impart 528 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(9): 528-535 the food and malnutrition security for the farmer’s field at Samba, Kathua, Marh and masses. University campus Chatha Jammu, during Khraif season 2013 and 2014 (300m above Among the pulses, Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan sea level). Samba is situated 40 km, Kathua L. Millsp.) is the second most important and 80 km and Marh 30 km away from Main highly profitable pulse crop grown under Campus Chatha, respectively. In case of wide variety of agroclimatic conditions and Pigeonpea, variety PAU-881 was used. The under varied cropping systems in different crop was sown between 10-15th July each year states in the country. It is a multipurpose in a randomized block design. Cultural legume consumed in various parts of the operations were done according to the revised world and is grown in 4.42 million ha with an package of practices for agricultural crops annual production of 2.89 million tonnes and (kharif) of SKUAST-J (2012). 655kg ha-1 of productivity in India. It requires a tropical climate for its growth and Collection and identification of true development. Pigeonpea crop is benefitted by pollinators and other pollinators pollinators which enhance their yield both quantitatively and qualitatively. All pulse Number of insect pollinators of each species crops are open pollinated to varying degrees, visiting fields was recorded at 10 per cent which means in order to achieve seed set flowering till its complete cessation. pollen must be transferred between flowers. Observations was made for different groups Although flowers are often cross pollinated, of pollinators visiting the field during natural cross-pollination ranging from 0.1- flowering at regular interval of time for five 48.0% has been reported by various workers minutes in each square meter area from five (Howard et al., 1919). Benefit has been spot during peak flowering period. The rate of reported up to 1,100 % in bean and 600 % in flower visitation and number of nectar and kidney beans. Like soybean, Pigeonpea and pollen collectors was also recorded. Sweep other pulses is self-pollinated crop but yield net method (measuring 40 cm in diameter) increases by bee pollination have been was used to collect insects flying over the observed (Abrol and Shankar, 2015). Singh plots and eye observation were used to clear (2016) indicated that Megachile spp., and settle insects. Insects were identified to Xylocopa tenuiscopa, Amegilla zonata and the level of species, when possible, using Nomia sp. were true pollinators and out of published systematic keys. Simultaneously these, Megachile spp. was key pollinators of meteorological parameters were also recorded Pigeonpea. India’s high level of pulse demand to correlate with pollinators. is set to continue as a result of increased population growth and rising disposable Impact of insect pollination on Pigeonpea income. In view of the above, studies were crop production conducted to determine the diversity of insect pollinators associated with these crops and For assessing the impact of insect pollination their impact on crop production. on crop production, experiment was divided into six treatments given below- Materials and Methods Quantitative parameters include pod weight, Location and site of the experiment number of seeds per pod, weight of 1000 seeds and seed yield per plant whereas, The studies on pollinators of Pigeonpea, C. qualitative parameters comprise germination cajan were carried out at four locations i.e., at (%), seedling vigour and oil content (%). 529 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(9): 528-535 Estimation of protein Chatha during 2013-2014 While during 2014- 2015 it was recorded from Kathua and Chatha The protein content of foods is mostly been only. The M. bicolor was recorded from determined on the basis of total nitrogen Samba and Chatha while as, M. caphalotes content. The Kjeldahl method is almost and M. disjuncta were recorded from Kathua, universally applied to determine nitrogen Samba and Chatha during 2013-2014. During content, total nitrogen is then multiplied by a 2014-2015, M. bicolor was recorded from factor to arrive at the protein content. Protein Marh, Kathua and Chatha only. While as, M. concentration in the extracts was determined caphalotes was recorded from all the four by the method of Micro Kjeldahl (1996). The locations of study and M. disjuncta from data on quantitative and qualitative Kathua and Chatha only. Other insect visitor parameters were statistically analyzed using of Pigeonpea included housefly and adult ANOVA (SAS Institute 2002). When F-test butterflies. The field activity of housefly and was significant, means were separated using adult butterfly were recorded at all the four Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference locations during 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. (HSD) Test at the 0.05 level of significance. Pollinator complex on pigeonpea Results and Discussion The result revealed that pollinator species Insect pollinators visiting pigeonpea from order Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera were found visiting the field during The studies were conducted on pollinator peak flowering at regular interval of time. In complex visiting Pigeonpea at three different the order Hymenoptera, the field visit by the location of Jammu division which included family Megachilidae was 50% followed by Marh, Kathua, Samba and Chatha. The study family Apidae 46%. In the order Lepidoptera revealed that Apis millifera, Apis dorsata and and Diptera, the field visit by pollinator spices Megachile lanata were recorded at all the Danaus plexippus, Pieris rapae and Musca locations during two consecutive years. The spp was 1.60%, 1.20% and 1.20%, field visit of Apis cerana was recorded at all respectively. the locations during 2013-2014 while as it was recorded only from three locations which Abundance and diversity of pollinators on included Kathua, Samba and Chatha during pigeonpea 2014-2015. The data presented in Table 2 revealed that The foraging activity of Apis florea was Pigeonpea flowers attracted 15 species of recorded only at Kathua and Chatha during insects belonging to five families, 7 genera 2013-2014 and only at Chatha during 2014- and three orders. The insect belongs to order 2015 (Table 1). The field activity of Xylocopa Hymenoptera were most abundant and latipes was recorded at Kathua, Samba and compared to honeybees Apis dorsata, A. Chatha during 2013-2014, while its foraging mellifera, A. cerana, A. florea, solitary bees, activity was recorded from all the four Xylocopa latipes, X. pubescence, Amegill locations during 2014-2015. The foraging azonata, Megachile bicolor, M. lanata, M. activity of X. pubescens was recorded from hera, M. cephalotes and M. disjuncta. Of all Kathua and Chatha locations during 2013- the bees, megachile bees were most abundant 2014 and Kathua, Samba and Chatha during and compared more than 50% of the total 2014-2015. The field activity of Amegilla flower visiting insects followed by honeybees zonata was recorded at Kathua, Samba and 39.4% and anthophorid bees 6.6%.
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