Pollinators of oil palm and relationship to fruitset and yield in two fruit forms in Ghana

Oil palm and its pollinators are native to Africa. Notwithstanding, it has been extensively cultivated outside its native range, so also has its pollinators been acquired and introduced. A concern, however is that most documentation on oil palm and its pollinators are non-indigenous, with little information of African origin commenting on their activities in Africa. Thus, a study on the insect pollinators of oil palm was carried out on two fruit forms: Dura and Tenera , (ages ten and seven, respectively), in Ghana. The aim was to understand how average monthly population density of the pollinators relates to one another, and to two bunch parameters (fruitset and fruit-to-bunch ratio). Nine species (all in the order Coleoptera) were consistently seen on the spikelets of anthesising male inflorescences, and eleven species on receptive female inflorescences. Six were of the Elaeidobius genus: E. kamerunicus , E. plagiatus , E. singularis , E. subvittatus , E. bilineatus , and Elaeidobius sp. 1 (unidentified species); two each were of the Microporum genus: M. congolenses , M. dispar , and the Prosoestus genus: P. scuptilis , P. minor ; while one species was of either Atheta or Forficula . The pollinators were observed to be positively related, and to varying degree of significance. Fruitset level was acceptably high, indicating adequate pollinator population and efficient pollination. There was a positive relationship between population density of the pollinators and fruitset, and a negative relationship between the bunch parameters. A number of other insects were seldom observed around the male and female inflorescences; their role could not be defined. Le palmier à huile et ses pollinisateurs sont originaires d'Afrique. Malgré cela, il a été largement cultivé en dehors de son aire d'origine, de même que ses pollinisateurs ont été acquis et introduits. Il est toutefois préoccupant de constater que la plupart des documents sur le palmier à huile et ses pollinisateurs sont non indigènes, et que peu d'informations d'origine africaine commentent leurs activités en Afrique. Ainsi, une étude sur les insectes pollinisateurs du palmier à huile a été réalisée sur deux formes de fruits : Dura et Tenera (palmiers âgés respectivement de 10 et 7 ans), au Ghana. L'objectif était de comprendre comment la densité moyenne mensuelle de la population des pollinisateurs est liée à deux paramètres de la grappe (le nombre de fruits et le rapport entre les fruits et la grappe). Neu