1. Occurrence of Insect Pollinators of BitterOccurrence of Insect Pollinators of Bitter
Gourd and Their Relationship withGourd and Their Relationship with
Qualitative Yield of Fruits in TaxilaQualitative Yield of Fruits in Taxila
Mohammad IrshadMohammad Irshad
Waqar Ahmad & Elizabeth StephanWaqar Ahmad & Elizabeth Stephan
National Agricultural Research Center, IslamabadNational Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad

2. IntroductionIntroduction
 Inadequate work in Pakistan on pollinationInadequate work in Pakistan on pollination
studiesstudies
 Bibliography of work from 1947-2010 showsBibliography of work from 1947-2010 shows
that there are 95 research articles, 21 M.SCthat there are 95 research articles, 21 M.SC
and 1PhD theses and 4 reportsand 1PhD theses and 4 reports

4. Material and MethodsMaterial and Methods
 The experiment was conducted onThe experiment was conducted on Momordica charantiaMomordica charantia inin
the village Gangu, Taxila.the village Gangu, Taxila.
 Just before the opening of flower buds, card tags were hangedJust before the opening of flower buds, card tags were hanged
on the nodes. Each card was labelled with the flower numberon the nodes. Each card was labelled with the flower number
and the plot number.and the plot number.
 One hundred flowers were tagged in the last week of AugustOne hundred flowers were tagged in the last week of August
2010.2010.
 The insect visitors coming on the bitter gourd flowers wereThe insect visitors coming on the bitter gourd flowers were
counted between 0800 and 0100 for one and half minute oncounted between 0800 and 0100 for one and half minute on
alternate day.alternate day.
 The counting was done till shedding of flowers .The counting was done till shedding of flowers .

6.  At harvests the data was recorded forAt harvests the data was recorded for
 Percentage Fruit settingPercentage Fruit setting
 Fruit LengthFruit Length
 Fruit WidthFruit Width
 Fruit WeightFruit Weight
 Seeds per fruitSeeds per fruit
 Seed weightSeed weight

7.  Fruits ofFruits of M. charantiaM. charantia Fruit being weighedFruit being weighed


8. Seed being weighedSeed being weighed

9. Ceretaa binghamiCeretaa binghami

10. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONRESULTS AND DISCUSSION
SettingSetting LengthLength WidthWidth WeightWeight SeedSeed Seed Weight VisitsSeed Weight Visits
%% cmcm cmcm gg NoNo gg NoNo
II 7575 20.620.6 3.63.6 123.6123.6 18.918.9 0.170.17 219219
IIII 6565 20.020.0 3.23.2 121.3121.3 18.318.3 0.150.15 182182
IIII 7070 20.720.7 3.43.4 122.2122.2 19.019.0 0.170.17 223223
IVIV 6565 19.219.2 3.33.3 109.3109.3 18.318.3 0.250.25 199199
VV 6060 20.020.0 3.43.4 118.0118.0 18.418.4 0.240.24 184184

11.  The maximum no. of pollinators/ insect visitors wasThe maximum no. of pollinators/ insect visitors was
in plot-III.in plot-III.
 These pollinators fall under family Apidae, ScoliidaeThese pollinators fall under family Apidae, Scoliidae
(Hymenoptera), Hesperidae, Papilionidae,(Hymenoptera), Hesperidae, Papilionidae,
Nymphalidae, Pieridae (Lepidoptera), EmpidaeNymphalidae, Pieridae (Lepidoptera), Empidae
(Diptera), Cleridae and Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera)(Diptera), Cleridae and Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera)
 The maximum no. of insect pollinators belonged toThe maximum no. of insect pollinators belonged to
ApidaeApidae
 More than 10 species of insects visited flowersMore than 10 species of insects visited flowers

12. CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
 These parameters cannot be significantlyThese parameters cannot be significantly
correlated with no. of pollinators visiting thecorrelated with no. of pollinators visiting the
flowers.flowers.
 Some more experiments are needed toSome more experiments are needed to
establish number of pollinators with fruitestablish number of pollinators with fruit
quality and quantityquality and quantity

13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 The Technical and financial support of FAO,The Technical and financial support of FAO,
GEF, UNEP is gratefully acknowledgedGEF, UNEP is gratefully acknowledged