Influence of honeybees and wild pollinators on coriander pollination in the Indian Himalayan region

This study explores the influence of pollinator diversity, behavior, and species interactions on seed yield of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L. [Umbelliferae Apiaceae]) over three consecutive years (2022–2024) at the Experimental Farm, ICAR-VPKAS, Almora, Uttarakhand, India. A total of 46 insect pollinators from five orders were documented, with hymenopterans and dipterans emerging as the most diverse and dominant groups. Diversity and dominance indices, such as the Shannon and Simpson indices, were calculated to quantify the biodiversity, revealing a moderately diverse pollinator community with low species dominance. The open control treatments, where pollinators had unrestricted access to the flowers, recorded the highest seed yield, showing a 163% increase over closed controls, highlighting the critical role of insect pollinators in enhancing crop productivity. The synergistic interaction between Andrena spp. and Apis cerana indica Fabricius 1798 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) resulted in a significant yield enhancement of 117.1%, demonstrating the potential benefits of targeted pollinator management. Additionally, polyhouse studies utilizing A. c. indica showed that controlled pollination could achieve comparable yield improvements to field conditions, proving the feasibility of such approaches. Finally, the study highlights the importance of maintaining diverse pollinator communities and strategically leveraging species interactions to maximize coriander yield, offering valuable insights for sustainable agricultural practices.