New record of bumble bee, Bombus breviceps Smith as a pollinator of large cardamom

作者：Deka T N^*; Sudharshan M R; Saju K A

来源：Current Science, 2011, 100(6): 926-928.

• Amomum subulatum
• Bombus breviceps
• heterostylic flowers
• pollinator

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, is the main cash crop and spice cultivated in the sub-Himalayan state of Sikkim, and Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India. It is essentially a cross-pollinated crop due to the heterostylic nature of its flowers, though they are self-fertile. Effective cross pollination occurs with the help of bumble bees due to their compatible body size within the cavity of the floral tube (corolla), bringing the upper part of the thorax in contact with the stigma and anther of the flower. The thorax carries the pollen from distant flowers. Here we report the bumble bee Bombus breviceps Smith as an effective pollinator of large cardamom during the initial flowering period at different altitudes of cultivation.

• 出版日期2011-3-25