Efficiency of Bumble Bees (Bombus (Bombus) terrestris L.) as Pollinators and Cultivar Selection of Blueberries for Forcing Culture

Abstract

This study was investigated to clarify the efficiency of bumble bees (Bombus (Bombus) terrestris) as pollinators, and the cultivar selection of blueberries for forcing culture. The flowering and harvesting dates were accelerated by heating cultivation, and the percentages of berry sets were improved by pollination with bumble bees. However, the difference in the berry set percentage was caused by cultivars and forcing time. The percentage of berry set was increased in ‘Tifblue’ but not in ‘Northland’ by GA treatment. However, this treatment caused retardation of the harvesting period and produced lightweight berries. While forcing culture from late February, very early to medium ripening cultivars of northern highbush or half-high blueberries were usable as they could be harvested during May. It was also indicated that bumble bees were very efficient pollinators of blueberries.