Abstract
Anthesizing male inflorescences of oil palms were randomly sampled for the oil palm-pollinating weevil Elaeidobius kamerunicus at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) (field 56) in Benin City, Nigeria from March to September 2002. The weevils were counted and later examined for nematodes. There were no significant differences in the mean number of adult weevils sampled from various positions on the inflorescences, but there were significant differences in their mean numbers sampled on the various dates (P = 0.001). Microscopic examination of adult weevils indicated that nematodes are associated with the weevils and the spikelets. This preliminary survey indicates that E. kamerunicus is a major insect pollinator of the oil palm in NIFOR oil palm plantations. Its association with parasitic nematodes may have a bearing on the weevil’s pollination efficiency. These findings will help in understanding further the factors that govern pollination efficiency, percent fruit set and the occurrence of seasonal peaks in yields of fresh fruit from Nigerian oil palms.
Résumé
Un échantillonnage au hasard du charançon pollinisateur Elaeidobius kamerunicu a été réalisé dans les inflorescences mâles de palmier à huile à l’Institut Nigérian de recherche sur le palmier à huile, à Benin City, au Nigéria de mars à septembre 2002. Les charançons ont été dénombrés puis disséqués pour la recherche de nématodes parasites. Le nombre moyen de charançons adultes échantillonnés ne varie pas selon la partie de fleurs échantillonnées mais il varie selon la date (P = 0.001). L’examen microscopique des adultes révèlent que les nématodes sont associés aux charançons et aux bractées. Cette étude préliminaire montre qu’E. kamerunicus est le plus important insecte pollinisateur du palmier à huile dans les plantations de palmier de la NIFOR. Son association avec les nématodes parasites doit avoir une relation avec son efficacité de pollinisation. Ces résultats devraient permettre de mieux comprendre les facteurs impliqués dans l’efficacité de la pollinisation, le pourcentage de régimes et les pics saisonniers de production de fruits frais des palmiers à huile du Nigeria.
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Aisagbonhi, C.I., Kamarudin, N., Okwuagwu, C.O. et al. Preliminary observations on a field population of the oil palm-pollinating weevil Elaeidobius kamerunicus in Benin City, Nigeria. Int J Trop Insect Sci 24, 255–259 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1079/IJT200431
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/IJT200431