Use of Osmia bicornis L. for Pollination of Cyclamen persicum Mill. Cultivated in Greenhouse Environment During Winter Period

Abstract In this study, the pollinating potential of the red mason bee (Osmia bicornis syn. O. rufa) in seed production of a major ornamental plant - Persian cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum), was evaluated under horticultural farm conditions. The study was conducted under a greenhouse environment for five months, from October to the end of February. The juvenile hormone analogue methoprene supported the termination of bee diapause. Experimental results from Osmia pollination plots were compared with control plots that applied the hand-pollination method. Plants with flowers pollinated by the solitary bee had significantly more fruits than those pollinated by the hand method in November, December and February. In addition, significantly more seeds per capsule were produced by plants pollinated by O. bicornis from December to February. Finally, plants pollinated by Osmia bees produced more seeds than those hand-pollinated at all experimental months. These results showed that if the diapause of O. bicornis is successfully broken, this bee can be a very efficient pollinator in greenhouse environments, even during winter.