LYCHEE POLLINATION BY THE HONEYBEE

Pollination of lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) by the honeybee was stu died in Israel's two commercial cultivars, ''Mauritius' and 'Floridian '. Pollination rate, which was determined in a mixed 'Mauritius' and ' Floridian' plot, followed a consistent pattern: it was low at the firs t male (M(1)) 'Mauritius' bloom and reached a high value only when the pseudohermaphroditic (M(2)) 'Mauritius' bloom started. Pollen density on bees collected from 'Mauritius' inflorescences was very low during the M(1) bloom and increased to very high values during the M(2) bloo m. These results indicate that the 'Mauritius' M(1) bloom does not pla y an important role as a source of pollen for pollination, Pronounced, significant, and consistent differences in nectar volume per flower a nd sugar concentration in the nectar were found between M(1), M(2), an d female (F) 'Mauritius' flowers. Values were very high in F flowers, medium in M(2) flowers, and low in M(1) flowers. Accordingly, the dens ity of bees found on inflorescences was high during the F bloom, inter mediate during the M, bloom, and low during the M(1) bloom. The positi ve correlation between bee density and sugar concentration in the nect ar was highly significant for M(2), and F 'Mauritius' flowers. The nec tar contained three sugars: glucose (43%), fructose (39%),and sucrose (18%). This ratio was the same in nectar from M(1), M(2), and F 'Mauri tius' flowers.