Pollination
Applications
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Tomatoes
Bumblebees can totally replace the use of manual vibrators and hormone application, provided the plants produce viable pollen. Bumblebees grasp the tomato flower and vibrate their thorax to shake the pollen loose. This leaves a small brown mark on the anther cone, making it possible to monitor their work. A collony can pollinate 1000 to 3000 squere metres of crop for 6 to 8 weeks. The numbers of colonies required depends upon the type of glasshouse or tunnel, the season, the variety, the number of plants per sqaure metre and the competition from wild flowers.
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Sweet peppers
Sweet peppers pollinated by bumblebees will contain more seeds, resulting in a better shape and a thicker pericap. One colony is sufficient for the pollination of 3,000 to 5,000 square metres during 6 to 8 weeks.
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Strawberry
The big bumblebees are able to transport large quantities of pollen. The bumblebees land on the flower base (receptacle) of the strawberry flower and pollinate all the pistils in doing so. The flower base will develop into a beautiful, smooth fruit. Thanks to the activity of the bumblebees, less deformed fruits are produced. Bumblebees also work at low temperatures and under cloudy skies.
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Orchards
Bumblebees are less dependent on weather conditions during bloom. They fly also at low temperatures, cloudy and windy weather. Bumblebees are also insensitive to the varroa mite. For open-field crops, the Multi-Hive is extremely suitable. This bumblebee hive is weather-resistant. |
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Soft fruit
(cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, black and red currant, etc.) Bumblebees assure an excellent fruitset, especially during periods when honeybees are not active: in winter and in spring, and during cold and cloudy weather. Fruit quality is improved and commercial yields increase substantially by using bumblebees for pollination.
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Seed production
Convinced of the many advantages, seed producing companies use the Biobest bumblebees in order to achieve high seed production (alfalfa, red clover, sunflowers, etc.).
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Zucchini and melons
Bumblebees are very effective for pollination of zucchini and melons. After removing the Biogluc®, the bumblebees will visit male flowers (for pollen) as well as female flowers (for nectar). |
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Blueberry
For this crop, it is important that pollinating insects vibrate the flower, which can be done by bumblebees but not honeybees.
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Other crops
Because of their physiology, bumblebees are impeccable pollinators and can be introduced in lots of cultures. |
Contact Biobest
Belgium
Biobest Belgium N.V.
Ilse Velden 18
2260 Westerlo
BE - Belgium