Yield of Bitter Gourd (Momordica Charantia L.) Affected by Insect Pollinators Population Abundance and Foraging Time

Abstract

Keeping in view the importance of insect pollinators in global food production the current study was conducted at The New Developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan: to investigate population densities of insect pollinators visiting bitter gourd Momordica charantia flowers, with peak foraging time, and their impact on yield. Insect pollinators belonging to three orders Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera were recorded visiting five bitter gourd Momordica charantia varieties (Anmol, Gudka, Malawi, Paracha and Sonam). Among all insect pollinators that visited bitter gourd Momordica charantia flowers, highest population density (1.45 bees plant^-1) of honey bees species (Apidae) was recorded in morning time (09: 00am - 12: 00pm)  on variety Anmol followed by carpenter bees (Apidae) (0.98 bees plant^-1) on variety Sonam and Syrphid fly (Diptera)  (0.82 flies plant^-1) on variety Paracha while butterflies species were recorded least abundant visitor that forage bitter gourd Momordica charantia flowers (0.74 butterflies plant^-1 on variety Sonam in morning). Similarly yield obtained from uncovered plots; having access to insect pollinators was recorded significantly higher (Anmol (9140 Kg ha^-1), Malawi (6924 Kg ha^-1), Gudka (6751 Kg ha^-1), Sonam (6560 Kg ha^-1) and Paracha (6198 Kg ha^-1) than the yield obtained from covered plots; having no access to insect pollinators (Malawi (1288 Kg ha^-1), Sonam (1097 Kg ha^-1), Anmol (1007 Kg ha^-1), Gudka (976 Kg ha^-1) and Paracha (891 Kg ha^-1).