Pollination Effectiveness of Solitary and Social Bees Enhances Postharvest Parameters of Grewia asiatica L. (Malvaceae)

Falsa berry (Grewia asiatica L.) is a nutritionally rich fruit that is native to the Indian subcontinent, known for its antioxidant and medicinal importance. In Pakistan, falsa berry is cultivated across various agroecological zones and fulfils the needs of the local population. Effective pollination improves fruit set, yield, and essential post-harvest characteristics of the falsa berry. The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of insect pollinators on fruit yield and the physical and biochemical properties of the falsa berry. A small falsa orchard with an area of 0.05 ha was selected to test the open-pollinated and pollinator-restricted treatments. Pollinators' abundance and foraging behaviour were recorded for eight pollinator species, i.e., Apis florea, A. dorsata, Megachile lantana, M. hera, M. cephalotes, M. bicolor, Eristalinus aeneus, and E. megacephalus. Twenty plants were randomly selected for data recording. Physical parameters, including fruit weight, length, and width, were recorded, while biochemical parameters, including TSS, pH, and vitamin C, were also determined. The highest abundance of insect pollinators in the falsa field was recorded at 8:00 am, as compared to other recording times. Megachile cephalotes was the most abundant bee visiting the flower. In terms of stay time, Eristalinus aeneus, E. megacephalus, and A. mellifera spent more time per flower, as compared to other species. Open pollination resulted in higher fruit set than self-pollination. Similar trends were observed in the physical parameters: fruit weight increased by 1.4 times, fruit length by 1.35 times, and fruit width by 1.23 times. Open-pollinated fruits were available for market for a longer period than caged-pollinated fruits, with 90% marketable 3 days after harvesting. Similar trends were observed in physicochemical parameters, with open-pollinated fruits showing higher TSS and pH. These findings reveal the significance of insect pollinators in enhancing the yield and postharvest parameters of falsa berry.