CROSS-POLLINATION OF SUNDROP APRICOT (PRUNUS-ARMENIACA L) BY HONEYBEES

Pollinator foraging activity on 'Sundrop' apricots (Prunus armeniaca L .) in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand was investigated to see if restricted po llen transfer reduced fruit production. Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) were the only significant floral visitors. Most bees collected pollen and therefore contacted the stigma. Pollen foragers worked flowers fas ter than nectar foragers (5.3 versus 2.7 flowers/min). Forager densiti es varied widely between days but under good weather conditions reache d 9 bees/tree for up to 6 h a day. Neither nectar volume nor its compo sition appeared likely to reduce foraging activity. 'Sundrop' flowers held up to 20 mu l of nectar at an initial concentration of similar to 5% sugar. Data gathered were used to estimate forager numbers needed for cross pollination of 'Sundrop'. The calculations indicated that ad equate cross pollination is feasible under Hawkes Bay conditions with hive densities of c. 5.0 hives/ha, within the range normally recommend ed for stonefruit crops.