Observations on the pollination of Chinese gooseberries variety ‘Hayward’

Abstract

Honey bees provided virtually all pollination of Chinese gooseberries. Honey bees usually visited male and female (lowers for pollen in the mornings, when pollen was damp and could be more readily packed in their pollen baskets. Male flowers attracted more bees than female flowers. Nectar secretion was not observed in male or female Chinese gooseberry flowers. The weight of individual fruit formed from flowers protected from bee visitation was significantly lighter than those not protected, but there was no significant difference in fruit number. Seed formation in protected fruit was significantly lower than in fruit exposed to bee visitation. Adequate pollination of Chinese gooseberries is difficult to attain because of various adverse factors. To ensure adequate pollination we recommend tentatively that hives be placed in orchards at the rate of eight per hectare.