RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TYPE OF INFLORESCENCE AND THE BEE POLLINATION OF PEAR CULTIVARS

Studies were made on 47 pear cultivars between 1986 and 1989. The type of inflorescence based on the opening order of the flowers in them was important from the point of view of bee visitation. The average number of honeybee visits was greater at inflorescences with centripetal opening order (28 in average) compared to ones with centrifugal flowering (21 in average). This is explained by the higher number of flowers in centripetal type inflorescence (9.3 in average compared to 6.6) and by their blooming period that is 28 per cent longer than the same of centrifugal inflorescence. Consequently there was as much as some 40 per cent difference in the fruit set of the two types of inflorescences in average. Divergent type can be characterized by a transitional position between the mentioned two groups buts its features are much more resembling to the centrifugal than to the centripetal type. Accordingly, flowering order in pear inflorescences has got a definite effect of bee visitation and yield of pear cultivars. The centripetal type is much more fruitful and seems to be much more profitable than the centrifugal one.