Pollinator Movement and Pollen Transfer in Hybrid Seed Canola

Date
2017
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Abstract
Production of hybrid seed canola requires the transfer of pollen from hermaphroditic (‘male’) to male-sterile (‘female’) plants, facilitated by managed pollinators (honey and leafcutter bees) and wild pollinators. I assessed pollinators in fields of hybrid seed canola located in Southern Alberta to determine what behaviours and conditions could enhance pollen transfer between male and female plants. I found that managed species were the most common pollinators, that all pollinators exhibited floral constancy to morph (male or female), and that pollinator type, time on flower, pollen on body, and flower of origin influenced pollination effectiveness. Pollinator movement between male and female flowers was positively affected by densities of conspecific pollinators, taxon richness, and relative floral profit. While hybrid seed canola morphs are sexually dimorphic, sufficient quantities of managed pollinators should reduce floral constancy. Wild pollinators can contribute to cross-pollination indirectly by increasing managed pollinator movement via increased diversity.
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Education--Agricultural, Education--Sciences, Ecology
Citation
Waytes, R. (2017). Pollinator Movement and Pollen Transfer in Hybrid Seed Canola (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27379