PHENOLOGY, POLLINATION AND SEED PRODUCTION of Millettia pinnata IN KUNUNURRA, NORTHERN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
ABSTRACT: Millettia pinnata L.
Panigrahi syn. Pongamia pinnata L.
Pierre is a leguminous tree, which produces seed oil suitable for biodiesel. Phenology
and pollination were monitored and manipulated to increase seed set and yield. Flowering
time in Kununurra occurred for one month from early October and flowering was
asynchronous within and between trees. Two legitimate, native bee pollinators, Megachile sp. and Nomia sp., had very low visitation rates (6
and 13 visits) during the peak period from 09.00 – 10.00 and short foraging
activity (from 06.00 – 12.00). This was possibly due to the small nectar reward
(1.0 ± 0.04 ml) and high summer temperature
in Kununurra. High pollen viability (85 ± 3%) decreased substantially following
storage for 1 year at 4oC to 10 ± 3%, but only slightly to 62 ± 3% at either
-20 oC or -80 oC. Introduced honey bees
(Apis mellifera) increased seed yield from 296 to 4981 g/tree, but it remained
relatively low and highly variable.
Author: Ni Luh arPIWI, guIJun
yan, eLIzaBeth L BarBour, JuLIe a PLummer
Journal Code: jpbiologigg140001
