African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6853

Full Length Research Paper

Pollination by Xylocopa olivacea Fabricius 1871 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and potential benefits on Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. 1843 (Fabaceae) production in Djoumassi (North Region, Cameroon)

Yatahai Clément Mineo
  • Yatahai Clément Mineo
  • Laboratory of Zoology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, P. O. Box 814 Maroua, Cameroon.
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Massah Dabole Odette
  • Massah Dabole Odette
  • Laboratory of Applied Zoology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P. O. Box 454 Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
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Kodji Issaya
  • Kodji Issaya
  • Laboratory of Zoology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, P. O. Box 814 Maroua, Cameroon.
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Adamou Moïse
  • Adamou Moïse
  • Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Garoua, P. O. Box 346 Garoua, Cameroon.
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Kingha Tekombo Bernice
  • Kingha Tekombo Bernice
  • Laboratory of Applied Zoology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P. O. Box 454 Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
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Mazi Sanda
  • Mazi Sanda
  • Laboratory of Applied Zoology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P. O. Box 454 Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
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  •  Received: 26 August 2023
  •  Accepted: 10 November 2023
  •  Published: 30 June 2024

Abstract

The investigation aimed to assess the impact of Xylocopa olivacea on Vigna unguiculata yields, and its foraging and pollinating activities were studied at Djoumassi from October 30th to November 04th in 2018 and from 04 to 10th October in 2019. A total of 540 flowers were observed, divided into four treatments. Two treatments were differentiated based on the presence or absence of flower protection against insect visits. The third treatment consisted of protected and opened flowers, allowing X. olivacea visits, while the fourth treatment involved opened flowers that were later closed without any visit. The daily rhythm of the bee’s activity, as well as its foraging and pollination activities, was evaluated. Results indicated that X. olivacea intensely and exclusively collected nectar from V. unguiculata flowers. Its pollination efficiency increased the podding rate by 19.44 and 27.01%, the mean number of seeds per pod by 33.42 and 29.38%, and the percentage of normal seeds by 30.12 and 25.43% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Therefore, it is recommended to establish and increase nests of X. olivacea near V. unguiculata fields to enhance pod and seed yields.

Key words: Xylocopa olivacea, Vigna unguiculata, nectar, pollination, yield, Garoua.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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