Role of Insect Pollinators in the Pollination of Coconut: Cocos Nucifera at Asante Mampong Municipality in Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

This research was conducted in the Asante Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana from 27th June, 2018 to 16th October, 2019. The core objective of the study was to investigate into the role of insect pollinators in the pollination of three varieties of coconut (Cocosnucifera) on Coconut Plantation at Asante Mampong Municipality.

A five acre Coconut plantation was established in the year 2008. The major coconut varieties grown are namely; Hybrid Tall (HT), Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) and Equatorial Guinea Dwarf (EGD). These varieties were grown in rows but mixed together with the inter row distance 7.5m X 7.5m for the short varieties and 9.0m X 9.0m for the tall varieties.

Six (6) individual coconut plants were selected randomly from each variety, making a total of eighteen (18) coconut plants for the investigation based upon their fruiting requirements using simple random sampling.

The results from the study showed that, there were more cross-pollination than self-pollination in Hybrid Tall (HT) and Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD). Both cross-pollination than self-pollination took place in Equatorial Guinea Dwarf (EGD).

Seven (7) insect species were found as coconut flower visitors. Out of the seven, three (3)species namely honey bees (Apismellifera) and stingless bees (Dactylurina spp. and Meliponula spp)

Were the potential pollinators. Housefly (Orinidiaspp), Wasps are occasional flower visitors foraging for resources for their colony. Ants were numerous but their structure and movement may have no effect on pollination.  

Observation of foraging insects and pollinator counts were done on the inflorescence of the selected coconut plants. The foraging activities of bees occur at mid-day (11:0am-2:00pm) after which their activities gradually decline drastically (3:00pm-6:00pm). Intense foraging of bees occurs when temperature was between 27^OC to 29^OC (12:00pm-2:00pm). Dactylurinasppprefers higher temperature than Apismellifera and Meliponula spp. Abundant Dactylurinaspp were observed at the temperature range of 27^OC to 29^OC between12:00pm - 2:00pm whiles Apismellifera and Meliponulaspp were also in abundant at the temperature 27^OC between 12:00pm-1:00pm.