Pollination efficiency of Honey bees in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Studies on the pollination efficiency of honeybees in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) revealed that the seeds/capitulam (1278), 1000 seeds weight (47.3), and % crinkled seeds (8.2) were maximum in six framed Apis mellifera pollinated crop followed by one colony of A. florea pollinated crop. The six framed A. mellifera yield in (16.4q/ha⁻¹), one colony of A. florea (15.0 q/ha⁻¹), and% seed setting in A. mellifera (86.9%) crop was significantly higher over the pollination without insects. Although six framed A. mellifera pollinated crop was statistically at par with one colony of A. florea pollinated crop but the % germination was significantly in higher six framed A. mellifera (94.3%) followed by open pollination (93.5%)