Pollination Requirements of Some Tropical
Crops
Abiu
Flowers are bisexual. Some self-incompatibility
may occur. Insect pollination appears useful.
Acerola
Flowers
are bisexual. Flowers appear to have a low degree of self pollination.
Insects (bees and flies) are useful. Flowers produce nectar.
Allspice
Flowers bisexual but trees function as male or
female. Honey bees are recommended.
Avocado
Flowers
bisexual but function as male and female at different times over a two
day period. Some varieties are self compatible within the variety,
others need other varieties that produce compatible pollen. Flowers
produce nectar. Honeybees and native bees recommended.
Black Sapote
Flowers bisexual. Some trees have flowers that
are self incompatible. Single trees not recommended.
Banana
Female
flowers are produced first followed by male ones. Cultivated types do
not require pollination. Wild types are pollinated by birds, bats and
insects. Flowers produce nectar.
Betel Nut
Separate male and female flowers on the same
flower clusters. Insects and wind likely to cause pollination
Breadfruit
Male
and female flowers on each tree. Seedless type (breadfruit) do not
require pollination. Seeded type (breadnut) is likely to be wind
pollinated.
Brazil Nut
No information on pollination available.
Cocoa
Flowers are bisexual but appear to be self
incompatible. Pollination by very small insects - midges and ants.
Carambola
Flowers
bisexual and incompatible. Some varieties are self compatible within
the variety while others rely on pollen from other varieties. Flowers
are highly attractive to insects. Bees recommended.
Cashew Nut
Bisexual and male flowers are produced in the
same panicle. Insect pollination is necessary. Flowers produce nectar.
Cardamon
Flowers consist of numerous bisexual florets
that are self-sterile. Pollination by honeybees recommended.
Carob
Most
trees have either male or female flowers. Some trees have male flowers
and bisexual flowers. Cross pollination, possibly by wind.
Cassava
Male and female flowers on the same panicle.
Insects most likely cause pollination.
Casimiroa
Flowers
are bisexual but often incompatible within the variety. Pollinator
varieties recommended. Bees recommended. Flowers produce nectar.
Cherimoya
Flowers
are bisexual and self-fertile but female parts are receptive before the
pollen is released. Very small insects are thought to act as
pollinators.
Cinnamon
Flowers bisexual, likely to be pollinated by
very small insects.
Citrus
Flowers
mostly bisexual. Lemon and lime may have some male flowers. Washington
navel flowers do not produce pollen and do not require pollination.
Honeybees are recommended. Citrus flowers produce nectar.
Cloves
Flowers are bisexual. Cross pollination by bees
appears necessary. Flowers produce nectar.
Coconut
Male
and female flowers on each panicle. Most varieties are not self
pollinating as male flowers open before the female ones. Dwarf
varieties appear to be self-fruit-setting as flowers overlap. Insects
and wind appear to cause cross pollination. Flowers produce nectar.
Cofffee
Flowers bisexual. and usually self fertile.
Bees may increase yields. Flowers produce nectar.
Date Palm
Male
and female flowers on separate trees. Cross pollination to a limited
extent by wind. As no nectar is produced, bees collecting pollen from
male flowers are not attracted to female flowers.
Durian
Flowers
bisexual and open at night and early morning. Pollinated by bats, moths
and possibly bees. Flowers produce nectar.
Duku
Flowers bisexual with sterile pollen. Fruit
sets parthenocarpically.
Feijoa
Flowers bisexual, some being self-fertile,
others require cross pollination with other trees.
Fig
Varieties
produce only female flowers that do not require pollination to set
fruit. Smyrna figs require a special pollination variety and cross
pollination by a small wasp.
Granadilla
Flowers
are bisexual and self-fertile, but require insect or mechanical
transfer of pollen from male part to female part. Hand pollination at 7
to 9 a.m. advised.
Guava
Flowers bisexual but require insect transfers
of pollen. Honeybees are recommended. Flowers produce nectar.
Inga Bean
Flowers
bisexual but possibly of low self compatibility. Heavy flower drop with
little or no fruit set in early years of flowering.
Jakfruit
Male and female flowers on same tree. Cross
pollination by wind, rain or insects or others required for good fruit
formation.
Jojoba
Male and female flowers on separate plants.
Pollination by wind. No nectar produced.
Jujube
Flowers
bisexual with pollen released before female part is receptive.
Pollination by bees is recommended. Flowers produce nectar.
Kola Nut
Trees produce bisexual and or male flowers.
Pollination by bees recommended as only pollen from male flowers is
viable.
Longan
Male and bisexual flowers on some panicles.
Pollination by bees recommended. Flowers produce nectar.
Loquat
Flowers bisexual. Pollination by honeybees
recommended. Flowers produce nectar.
Lychee
Flowers
male, female and bisexual. Male flowers often open first followed by
female and bisexual flowers and some male flowers. Initial heavy flower
drop (males) often causes concern. Pollination by honeybees
recommended. Flowers produce nectar.
Macademia
Bisexual
florets in racemes. Pollen released before female part is receptive.
Pollination by honeybees recommended. Flowers produce nectar.
Mango
Bisexual
and male flowers appear on panicles. Insects recommended for
pollination. Ratio of male to bisexual flowers varies greatly within
varieties. Flowers produce nectar.
Mammea
Flowers bisexual. No pollination
recommendations.
Mammey Sapote
Flowers bisexual and possibly pollinated by
small insects. Flowers produce nectar.
Mombin
Flowers appear bisexual but have poor
self-compatibility. Plantings of multiple varieties and insect
pollination recommended.
Mulberry
Separate
male and female flowers in varying amounts on most trees with some
varieties producing only male or female flowers on the tree. Honeybees
visit male flowers but pollination by wind is suspected.
Natal Plum
Flowers bisexual. Different varieties have male
or female functional flowers, giving a result of poor fruit set in many
plants.
Nutmeg
Mostly
male and female flowers on different trees while some trees have
bisexual flowers. Pollination by small insects is most likely.
Oil Palm
Male and female flower clusters on the same
plant but are functional at different times. Pollination by insect or
wind.
Pawpaw
Male,
female flowers on separate trees (dioecious) or bisexual flowers only
(hermaphrodite). During winter some male trees produce bisexual flowers
that may be cross pollinated or self pollinated. Pollination by moths
most likely but birds, bees and others may assist.
Passionfruit
Flowers
are bisexual but often self-sterile. Plants of different varieties to
supply compatible pollen and insects (honeybees and native bees) are
recommended to achieve good crops.
Pecan Nut
Male and female flowers on each plant. Wind
pollinated. Some varieties are self-fertile, others are not.
Pepper
Flowers
of male, female and bisexual may be on the same plant or on separate
plants. Cross pollination is necessary. Rain is considered the main
agent.
Perismmon
Flowers
may be bisexual, male or female. Fruit of some varieties set without
pollination while flowers of others require a pollination variety
planted at regular intervals. Flowers produce nectar.
Pili Nut
Male and female flowers on separate trees.
Cross pollination by insects necessary.
Pineapple
Flowers
bisexual but not self-fertile. No pollination is required for fruit to
form. Flowers produce nectar. Humming birds (not found in Australia)
are regarded as the main pollinators where pollination is desired.
Pitaya
Flowers
are bisexual but appear self incompatible. Plants of different
varieties are suggested to be planted nearby and insects are possibly
the main pollinating agents.
Purple Mangosteen
Male
and female flowers are on separate trees. Male trees are rare. Female
flowers do not require pollination to set fruit. The "seeds" are not
true seeds.
Rambutan
Male,
female and bisexual flowers on the same or separate trees: Some trees
of seedling types may have male flowers only. Honeybees are
recommended. Flowers produce nectar.
Rollinia
Flowers are bisexual. Small insects appear
necessary to transfer pollen as pollen is released before female part
is receptive.
Rubber Tree
Male and female flowers on the same panicle.
Honeybees appear to aid pollination. Flowers produce nectar.
Sago Palm
Male and bisexual flowers on the same plant.
Pollination not required as plants are propagated by suckers.
Sapodilla
Flowers are bisexual and may require insect
visitation to set fruit. Flowers produce nectar.
Soursop
Flowers are bisexual but require insects to
transfer pollen.
Star Apple
Flowers appear to be bisexual and pollinated by
small insects.
Strawberry
Flowers are bisexual. Female parts receptive
before pollen is released. Honeybees are recommended for adequate fruit
size.
Sugar Cane
Flowers are bisexual and wind pollinated, but
pollination is not required in normal cultivation.
Tamarind
Flowers are bisexual and most likely insect
pollinated. Flowers produce nectar.
Tea
Flowers are bisexual but often self-sterile.
Cross pollination is recommended for seed setting.
Tung Oil Nut
Each
tree has mainly male or female flowers, though some trees may have
small numbers of the other. Cross pollination by insects is necessary.
Turmeric
Flowers are bisexual but appear to be sterile.
Fruit set not necessary.
Uvilla
Male and female flowers on separate trees.
Cross pollination by insects is required.
Vanilla
Flowers are bisexual and self-fertile but
require small insects to transfer pollen
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