A study on pollination of Winter Nelis pears

Abstract

The roles of wind and honeybees in the transport of pollen for fertilization of Winter Nelis Pears was studied in a pear orchard at Doncaster East, Victoria. Concentrations of airborne pollen in the orchard were greater between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. than during the remainder of the day but were similar inside and outside a 2.5 mm mesh cage. Enclosing the trees in beeproof cages caused a marked decline in fruit yields and in numbers of seeds per fruit. The results of this study are compared with those of a previous study with Packhams Triumph Pears.