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To evaluate the effects of presence of insect pollinators on quantity and quality of seeds of two common cultivars of onion (Allium cepa L.), namely Red Azar Shahr and Yellow Sweet Spanish, an experiment in a factorial randomized complete block design was carried out at two sites. Bulbs of equal size were planted with plant to plant 35 cm and row to row 50 cm spacing. At each site, experimental groups differed only in pollination method. About a week before flowering start, at each site 3 groups of 10 individual inflorescences as block replications of each treatment combination (pollination × cultivar) were selected randomly and marked. For each onion cultivar, half of the plants were left uncovered (free pollination), whereas the other ones were isolated from insect pollinators by using wooden cages covered with cloth net. When about 10 percent of black seeds were visibly exposed in the umbels, harvest was done. After drying, the number and weight of seeds produced per inflorescence as well as 1000 seed weight was measured for each treatment combination. Four weeks after the harvesting date the germination test of seeds produced in each treatment combination was evaluated. Non availability of insect pollinators during the flowering period of onion caused substantial reduction on seed number and seed weight per umbel. Also, seeds from free pollination flowers showed higher germination capacity than those isolated from insect visitors. However, varieties as well as experimental sites did not show significant influences on seed setting of onion.

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This paper reports a new addition to the national bumblebee fauna of the Indian Himalayas. The newly recorded species viz., Bombus cryptarum (Fabricius, 1775) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) is fully described from the Gurez Valley (Jammu and Kashmir) and Panamik (Ladakh) in the Western Himalayan range. Males of the B. cryptarum have thoracic dorsum and T2 lemon yellow without black hairs. Gonostylus with the anterior apical process with long hairs and penis valve greatly broadened and flared outwards. With the addition of a new record, the Indian Himalayan region is now represented by 57 species of bumblebees. The species diagnosis, current distributional range, and host plants of this species are also provided.

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 The fruit set rate and yield of pear are commonly low due to insufficient pollination, as the species is unattractive to honeybees. To improve honeybee foraging behavior for the pollination of Dangshan pear (Pyrus bretschneideri cv. dangshansuli), nine methods were used to attract bees. A control treatment of colonies was fed with normal sugar syrup, while six other treatments were fed using sugar syrup mixed with Pear syrup, Gallic acid, Arginine (Arg), Lysine (Lys), Methionine (Met), or 8-Br-cGMP; plates containing Juvenile Hormone analog ZR-512, Brood Pheromone (BP), and Queen Mandibular Gland Pheromone (QMP) were placed inside the hives of another three treatments. Pollination efficacy was compared using the pollen load weight and quantity of foraging bees. The peak time of pear pollen gathering was 10:00–11:00 regardless of treatment. The pear pollen load weight per day was increased by all nine treatments. Pear pollen load weight per day was 49.11 g in the control. The QMP treatment yielded the heaviest pear pollen load weight per day (77.56 g), followed by the 8-Br-cGMP (64.45 g) and BP treatments (64.20 g). The percentages of pear pollen weight and quantity in the total pollen per day were both highest in the BP treatment (80.23%, 87.27%), followed by those in the QMP (79.32%, 86.74%) and Lys treatments (76.25%, 85.81%). In conclusion, BP was the most effective treatment for improving honeybee pollination behavior in the pear orchard, while other treatments, including Arg, Lys, 8-Br-cGMP, ZR-512, and QMP, could also be useful.

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To evaluate the genetic variations in eleven fennel populations in Iran, 55 accessions were analyzed by SRAP markers. Twelve primer combinations produced 171 polymorphic bands. The cumulative dendrogram delineated fennel accessions into five major groups in accordance to the geographical regions from which the populations were originated. About 43.57% of total genetic variation was detected among the populations, while 56.43% of total variation were observed within the populations. The studied populations showed high genetic differentiation (Gst= 0.52) and low gene flow (Nm= 0.46). Among the studied populations, Yazd and Kerman accounted for the highest values of PPB (%), Shanon index (I), and heterozygosity. The self-pollinated seeds were in the range of 2.01% in Paveh-2 to 9.24% in Isfahan-2 accessions. The essential oil content ranged from 0.62% in Isfahan-3 to 2.21% in Tabriz-3. Generaly, the dwarf populations viz., Tabriz and Paveh, had higher essential oil yield and their pollination was less affected by environmental factors than the average.

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Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) is one of the most important nut fruits and products, which is commercially grown in vast areas of the world. Almond kernel contains valuable compounds including vitamins, carbohydrates (fiber and soluble sugars), protein, fatty acids and mineral salts. Considering the importance of fatty acids in almonds. this study investigated the fatty acid content of pollen and seed parents and offspring of Shahrood 12 with selective pollinizers using Gas chromatography (GC). Also oil extraction by Soxhlet Elements were measured by atomic absorption method in parents and progeny of crosses. Some quantitative and qualitative traits related to dried fruit and almond kernels were also analyzed. The results showed that the highest amount of kernels weight in progeny obtained from crosses was related to free pollination. The results showed that the highest amount of oleic acid (18: 1) and linoleic acid (18: 2) was observed in MSK84 (75.51%) and shahrood14 (19.20%) pollinizers, respectively. Also, the highest amount of oleic acid with 72% was obtained in the offspring of Shahrood 12 (♀) × Shahrood 14(♂). The maximum amount of linoleic acid was obtained with 18.40% in the offspring resulting from Shahrood 12 (♀) × MSK84 (♂). On the other hand, the highest amount of palmitic acid (9.5%) was found in the progeny obtained from open pollination of Shahrood 12. These three types of fatty acids have the highest percentage among the seven fatty acids measured in the almond kernel. The highest amount of oil was obtained in progeny of mother Shahrood 12 with 54.42% MSK82 and 38.32% in MSK83 also The results showed that among the different genotypes Rate of oil (38.32-54.42%), Iron (85.48-138.53 mg / _{1000 g}), Copper (20.32-47.48 mg / _{1000 g}), Manganese (18.04 -44.67 mg / _{1000 g}).
 

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The present study investigated the effects of five Iranian male palm pollen grains as pollen sources on the fruit quality of two cultivars, ‘Barhee’ and ‘Piyarom’ (offshoot-derived and tissue culture-derived). The biochemical and enzymatic properties of fruit dates at the Tamar stage (full maturity) enabled the evaluation of pollen source effects on fruit quality. The research location was Jahrom Research Station, Fars Province, Iran, from 2018 to 2019. The pollen sources were genotypes ‘7001’ (control), ‘7005’, ‘7013’, ‘7030’, and ‘B11’. Pollinated with 7013 pollen, Offshoot-erived (OFS) trees of the ‘Barhee’ cultivar had the highest fruit flesh pH (7.07). In contrast, the lowest pH value (5.84) occurred in fruits of Tissue Culture-Derived (TCD) trees of the ‘Piyarom’ pollinated with the 7030. In the OFS ‘Piyarom’ the pollen source 7001 caused the highest fruit TSS (68.83%). When pollinated with the B11, ‘Barhee’ had the lowest fruit TSS (44.90%). In TCD ‘Piyarom’ trees, the 7030 pollen caused the highest TSS (62.53%). By receiving pollen from B11, the ‘Barhee’ produced fruits with the lowest TSS (44.23%). Regardless of being OFS or TCD and of the pollen source, on average, ‘Barhee’ produced fruits with more moisture content than fruits of the ‘Piyarom’. In OFS ‘Piyarom’ trees, pollen from the 7030 caused the highest Fruit Dry Matter (FDM) (87.40%), whereas the ‘Barhee’ pollinated with the 7001 produced fruits with the lowest FDM (67.15%). In TCD ‘Piyarom’ palms, pollen from the 7030 caused the highest FDM (85.19%), compared to the ‘Barhee’ pollinated with the 7013, which showed the lowest FDM (67.87%). Pollen from the 7030 caused the highest total sugar content in the fruits of OFS and TCD ‘Piyarom’ trees. The fruits of OFS ‘Piyarom’ trees had more Fe and Polyphenol Oxidase (PPO) activity than TCD ‘Piyarom’ trees.