Influence of Insect Pollination on Seed Germination and Seed Oil Content in Different Varieties/Lines of the Indian Mustard, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss

摘要

Influence of insect pollination on seed germination and seed oil content in different varieties/lines of the Indian mustard, Brassica juncea was studied during 2010-11 by obtaining seeds from (i) plants that had free access to insect pollinators, (ii)plants caged with nylon net to exclude insect visits on their flowers, and (iii) plants caged with nylon net allowing only honey bee visits on flowers. The results revealed that the seeds obtained from plants that had free access to insect pollinators gave significantly higher germination (89.18%) than those obtained from plants where insects were not allowed to visit the flowers (63.85%) but not higher than where only honey bee (Apis mellifera) visits were allowed(80.96%). Similarly significant differences in oil content were recorded among three types of seeds, highest being in seeds obtained from insect pollinated plants (39.75%). In insect pollinated plants, the lines EC399299, EC399301, EC399312 and EC399313gave higher germination (93.3-97.3%) than the varieties Kranti, Varuna, Margold, Vardan and Vaibhav (75.3-90.0%). The germination in seeds from plants of different varieties/lines not allowed insect visits varied from 46.7-80.0% (mean 63.85%). The studies explain the influence of insect pollination and differential response of various varieties/lines of the Indian mustard in this region.