Impact of bee pollination on chilli, Capsicum annuum under the low-hill conditions of Nagaland

Keeping in view the abundance of different insect visitors on chilli, an experiment was laid out with 4 different pollination treatments viz stingless bee (Tetragonula iridipennis) pollination, Apis cerana pollination, open field pollination and pollinator exclusion (control) to know the role of these visitors on production (fruit set, deformed fruits, fruit weight and fruit yield) and quality (fruit length, seed number, seed weight and moisture) in chilli. Chilli crop was grown as per good agricultural practices. Plants were caged with insect proof nylon nets for pollination treatments. A total of 11 major insect visitor fauna species were recorded foraging on chilli blooms under open field conditions. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index of chilli’s insect pollinator revealed higher diversity. Pollination efficiency index for pollinators was also calculated. The maximum diurnal abundance of pollinators was recorded between 0800-1200 h and the maximum foraging rate was found with syrphid flies, houseflies and stingless bees. Yield and quality parameters under different modes of pollination revealed that bee pollination was significantly superior over without pollination. In open conditions for adequate pollination of chilli, stingless bees, honeybees and Diptera fauna should be conserved along with non-Apis bees. Without pollination the yield and quality were too less in chilli. Stingless bees, honeybees and halictid bees were the major pollinators of chilli.