Pollination in top fruit can be enhanced

Field trials have proven that the process of pollination in top fruit can be enhanced through the use of a novel pheromone-based product, Pollinus which when sprayed onto the target crop attracts honey bees and bumble bees.

Steve Allan, Technical Manager for Agri-Nova Technology, reports that trials in pears in two varieties Comice and Conference showed that the two recommended treatments of Pollinus at 10% flowers opened and 100% flowers opened resulted in a higher fruit set and higher yields. "In the field both honey bees and bumble bees were being used for pollination purposes in the orchards. In the plots where Pollinus was applied the pollination process was much improved, leading to much better fruit set, up to 63% in the Pollinus treated areas from 44% in the untreated areas. Yields of the top fruit were also increased, to 34 t/ha in the Pollinus area from 32 t/ha in the control area. The trials clearly showed that in difficult pollination conditions for foraging insects, Pollinus sprays and the addition of beehives contributed to improved pollination of pear flowers and thereby, improved yield and quality."

He explains that Pollinus is based on a blend of four attractant pheromones that, when sprayed onto target crops by growers at the start of flowering, will mimic the pheromone attractants of bees, so attracting other exploring and pollen-gathering bees into the crop. "It ensures that bees are attracted into the treated crop rather than away into other perhaps more attractive nectar-producing crop in the vicinity. Simply by using Pollinus the best pollination is achieved in the best possible conditions. As pollination is so essential for seed and fruit set in many fruit and vegetable, yield is improved. We have found that it is particularly helpful where conditions are not conducive to bee activity, for instance when it is cold and wet."

Mr. Allan points out that Pollinus can be beneficial to growers of a wide range of crops that require pollination by bees. "The list of crops that could benefit from better pollination starts with top fruit including pears, apples, plums and cherries as well as soft fruit including raspberries, strawberries, loganberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants and blackberries."

"In fact the leading growers of blackcurrants in the UK are conducting wide scale field trials this year, following on from a promising first year of trials usage. Protected crops such as tomatoes have also been treated to good effect. On the arable side the crop list includes brassica vegetables, pumpkins, borage, other herbs, chicory, peas, field beans, broad beans and runner beans."

Steve explains that pollination by bees is an essential crop management practice in many crops, with over one third of food crops worldwide relying on pollination by insects, with bees providing 70% of this. "Without effective pollination we would be facing lower production and higher food costs. Despite all the difficulties in maintaining healthy bee populations, commercial beekeepers are keen to provide the best service they can to growers who rely on bees for pollination of their crops. Conversely growers want to improve the return they can get from these bee pollinators. What Pollinus does is to attract bees into the treated crop and so improve that return. It is particularly beneficial in cooler conditions by encouraging foraging."

Pollinus is recommended at the beginning of flowering, with a second spray when 50% to 100% of flowers have opened, usually around ten days later. It is recommended at 1 litre per hectare in 400-600 litres of water using a high pressure sprayer. The first treatment should take place the day after installation of beehives in the field. Best results will occur when Pollinus is applied in the early morning during fine weather.

"Although new to the UK, Pollinus has been used successfully in many other countries including France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Holland and New Zealand. Manufactured and developed by Natural Plant Protection, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arysta Lifesciences, it has shown consistent benefits to growers of a wide range of crops," says Steve Allan.

Growers can purchase Pollinus directly from Agri Nova Technology, The Barn, Audley End Business Centre, London Road, Wendens Ambo, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4JL (Tel- 01799 542289, Fax 05600 756945) or via the web site www.agri-nova.biz