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Cucurbits as a model system for crop pollination management

Knapp, Jessica LU and Osborne, J. (2019) In Journal of Pollination Ecology 25(9). p.89-102
Abstract
Cucurbit crops have steadily increased in production over the last 50 years, particularly in Asia where pioneering technological advancements and genetic improvements have created new hybrid varieties. Generally, cucurbits are dependent on insect-pollination for fruit set and are popular species for pollination studies. This review systematically summarises pollination research conducted in the major food genera of cucurbits: Cucurbita, Cucumis, and Citrullus, to ask: 1) what are cucurbits’ requirement for pollination and their most effective pollinators? And 2) Does pollinator management increase pollinator visitation to, and yield of, cucurbit crops? These accounts of cucurbit pollination demonstrate that wild bee species such as Bombus... (More)
Cucurbit crops have steadily increased in production over the last 50 years, particularly in Asia where pioneering technological advancements and genetic improvements have created new hybrid varieties. Generally, cucurbits are dependent on insect-pollination for fruit set and are popular species for pollination studies. This review systematically summarises pollination research conducted in the major food genera of cucurbits: Cucurbita, Cucumis, and Citrullus, to ask: 1) what are cucurbits’ requirement for pollination and their most effective pollinators? And 2) Does pollinator management increase pollinator visitation to, and yield of, cucurbit crops? These accounts of cucurbit pollination demonstrate that wild bee species such as Bombus terrestris, B. impatiens and Eucera spp. were frequently able to fulfil the pollination requirements of multiple cucurbit species. However, pollinator behaviour, pollen deposition on stigmas, and pollinators’ contribution to yield vary between cucurbit species and study site. Nonetheless, the provision of additional floral resources at both field and farm scales may help to encourage pollination of cucurbit species whilst supporting pollinators’ nutritional requirements beyond those already provided by the cucurbit crop. Synthesising studies on cucurbits’ requirement for pollination and how pollinators vary spatially and temporally in the landscape can extend beyond cucurbit systems to inform growers and pollination ecologists of other pollinator- dependent crop species wishing to maximise pollination services, species conservation; or both. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
citrullus; cucumis; cucurbita; pollination; pollinator populations
in
Journal of Pollination Ecology
volume
25
issue
9
pages
89 - 102
publisher
Enviroquest Ltd
external identifiers
  • scopus:85090272653
ISSN
1920-7603
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2bb9ff1b-1570-4ffb-a92b-59d8e22a1115
date added to LUP
2019-11-19 11:05:00
date last changed
2023-03-27 08:49:45
@article{2bb9ff1b-1570-4ffb-a92b-59d8e22a1115,
  abstract     = {{Cucurbit crops have steadily increased in production over the last 50 years, particularly in Asia where pioneering technological advancements and genetic improvements have created new hybrid varieties. Generally, cucurbits are dependent on insect-pollination for fruit set and are popular species for pollination studies. This review systematically summarises pollination research conducted in the major food genera of cucurbits: Cucurbita, Cucumis, and Citrullus, to ask: 1) what are cucurbits’ requirement for pollination and their most effective pollinators? And 2) Does pollinator management increase pollinator visitation to, and yield of, cucurbit crops? These accounts of cucurbit pollination demonstrate that wild bee species such as Bombus terrestris, B. impatiens and Eucera spp. were frequently able to fulfil the pollination requirements of multiple cucurbit species. However, pollinator behaviour, pollen deposition on stigmas, and pollinators’ contribution to yield vary between cucurbit species and study site. Nonetheless, the provision of additional floral resources at both field and farm scales may help to encourage pollination of cucurbit species whilst supporting pollinators’ nutritional requirements beyond those already provided by the cucurbit crop. Synthesising studies on cucurbits’ requirement for pollination and how pollinators vary spatially and temporally in the landscape can extend beyond cucurbit systems to inform growers and pollination ecologists of other pollinator- dependent crop species wishing to maximise pollination services, species conservation; or both.}},
  author       = {{Knapp, Jessica and Osborne, J.}},
  issn         = {{1920-7603}},
  keywords     = {{citrullus; cucumis; cucurbita; pollination; pollinator populations}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{89--102}},
  publisher    = {{Enviroquest Ltd}},
  series       = {{Journal of Pollination Ecology}},
  title        = {{Cucurbits as a model system for crop pollination management}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/71996418/535_2098_5_PB.pdf}},
  volume       = {{25}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}