Diversity of flowering insects and their impact on yields of Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, 1794 (Malvaceae) in Yaoundé (Cameroon)

Abstract

To evaluate the diversity and impact of insect pollinators on pod and seed yields of Abelmoschus esculentus, its foraging and pollinating behavior were studied in Yaounde, during the mild raining season (March-June) in 2014 and 2017. Treatments included unlimited floral access by all visitors and bagged flowers to avoid all insect pollinators. For each year of study, observations were made on 32 ± 2 flowers per treatment. The insects’ activities, its foraging behavior, and its impact on pollination were recorded. The foraging activities of insect pollinators increased the number of seeds/pod by 15.09% in 2014 and 20.57 in 2017 and the normal seeds by 44.49% in 2014 and 5.38% in 2017. Therefore, conservation of nests and colonies of insect pollinators close to A. esculentus crop fields should be recommended to improve pod and seed production in the region.