Insect Pollination in Asiatic Cotton(Gossypium Arboreum)

Abstract
During research on pollination of Asiatic cotton (Gossypium arboreum) at Ludhiana, Punjab (India), the most important insect pollinators were found to be the honeybees (Apis mellifera and Apis cerana indica). Foraging behaviour of pollen and nectar gatherers of these honeybees in fields of G. arboreum is described. Intensive bee pollination increased the yield of this species of cotton by 14·2 to 15·8%. There was also a great improvement in the quality of the cotton. Keeping higher populations of these bees in fields of Asiatic cotton is recommended for better returns.