Effect of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) pollination on yield and quality in coriander

The effect of different modes of pollination on quantity and quality on coriander when studied showed significantly higher number of flowers/umbel in open to all insect pollinators (72.60, 69.20) followed by A. mellifera pollinated crops (64.30, 61.30) and lowest in self-pollinated crop (42.10, 40.50). The number of filled seeds/umbel were significantly higher in open to all insect pollinators (50.80, 46.50) followed by A. mellifera pollinated crops (42.40, 39.70) and lower in self-pollinated (21.60, 21.50). The per cent seed set was recorded maximum (69.97, 67.19%) in open to all insect pollinators. A. mellifera pollinated crops showed significantly higher seed set (65.94, 64.76%) as compared to self-pollination (51.30, 53.08%). Coriander grown under open to all insect pollinators showed highest 1000-seed weight (6.90, 6.73 gm) followed by A. mellifera pollinated (5.41, 5.19g) which was significantly higher over self-pollinated (4.10, 4.03 g). The plots open to all insect pollinators yielded highest (14.50, 12.30 q/ha). The yield recorded in A. mellifera pollinated plots was (13.25, 11.25 q/ha), statistically higher than self-pollinated crop (7.50, 7.10 q/ha). The maximum germination was observed in open to all insect pollinators (79.75, 76.25%) followed by Apis mellifera pollinated crop (72.50, 70.25%) while lowest (52.50, 51.75%) per cent in self-pollinated crop.