The effect of mode of pollination on yield and oil potential of Brassica campestris L. Var. sarson with observations on insect pollinators
Author(s)
R. C. Mishra, Jitender Kumar And J. K. Gupta
Abstract
In a trial on Brassica campestris L. var. sarson cv. 'BSH-1', pod setting, seeds/pod, proportion of healthy and unhealthy (husks) seeds, weight of healthy seeds, oil content and oil yield were compared in net-caged, muslin-bagged and open-pollinated flowers. Per cent pod setting, seeds per pod and proportion of healthy seeds were significantly higher in open-pollinated flowers than in net-caged and muslin-bagged ones. The average weight of 100 seeds and oil content of seeds were significantly greater from muslin-bagged than from net-caged and open-pollinated flowers. Oil yield was 9.76 and 1.55 times higher under open pollination and net caging, respectively, than under muslin-bagging. Although there were many insect flower visitors, Apis cerana indica F. was the most common pollinating species. Bees mainly foraged on the crop for nectar.
