We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
New record of bumble bee, Bombus breviceps Smith as a pollinator of large cardamom.
- Authors
Deka, T. N.; Sudharshan, M. R.; Saju, K. A.
- Abstract
Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, is the main cash crop and spice cultivated in the sub-Himalayan state of Sikkim, and Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India. It is essentially a cross-pollinated crop due to the heterostylic nature of its flowers, though they are selffertile. Effective cross pollination occurs with the help of bumble bees due to their compatible body size within the cavity of the floral tube (corolla), bringing the upper part of the thorax in contact with the stigma and anther of the flower. The thorax carries the pollen from distant flowers. Here we report the bumble bee Bombus breviceps Smith as an effective pollinator of large cardamom during the initial flowering period at different altitudes of cultivation.
- Subjects
BUMBLEBEES; INSECT pollinators; CARDAMOMS; HETEROSTYLISM; FLOWERING time
- Publication
Current Science (00113891), 2011, Vol 100, Issue 6, p926
- ISSN
0011-3891
- Publication type
Article