Role of Pollinators on Seed Yield and Oil for Some Canola (Brassica napus L.) Genotypes

Abstract

Canola plant is considered one of the important oil crops that has a great future in Egypt so that the current studies were conducted at the research farm of the Agricultural Research Center in Shandaweel, Sohag Governorate, for two consecutive agricultural seasons, winter 2021\2022 and 2022\2023 to study the role of pollinators on the productivity of three varieties of canola (Masr1, Serw4 and Pactol). The results revealed that canola flowers were visited by 10 species of arthropods belong to 8 families and 4 orders. The identified species were classified to insect gathering nectar or pollen, predator and phytophagous insects. During both seasons, Hymenoptera was the most abundant order followed by Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera with ratio 71, 15, 10, and 4%, respectively. Whereas, honeybees, (Apis mellifera L.) and hover fly, (Syrphus corollae F. and Sphaerophoria scripta L.) were the most abundant pollinators detected at the first week of February till the end of flowering season in the end of March. Also, data showed that all studied character was significantly difference among three studied genotypes at both season. Masr1 recorded the highest seed yield/feddan (1295.42, 1282.46 kg) and total protein content but recorded lowest oil content, while Pactol gave the highest oil content in uncaged plants at first and second season respectively. Pactol had the lowest values of tested parameters, in uncaged case, but the heights oil content (48.88, 49.03 %) at both seasons respectively.