Honeybee pollination of oilseed rape, cultivar Midas

Abstract

In a trial on oilseed rape (Brassica napus) cv. Midas grown on dry land in northern Victoria, no increase in yield of seed, oil content, or percentage germination was obtained from plots where bees and larger insects had access compared with plots enclosed in cages of 2.5 mm mesh to exclude these insects. The weight of 1000 seeds was slightly greater in the enclosed plots. Bees and a Syrphid, Melangyna viridiceps, were the predominant insects visiting the flowers. The bees stored some surplus honey and pollen and built up colony population. Self-pollination and possibly wind pollination appear to be the norm for this cultivar.