JASPAL SINGH1, SUNITA YADAV2 AND PARDEEP K. CHHUNEJA3

Studies on the contribution of Apis mellifera Linn. and other pollinators in seed production of Trifolium alexandrinum L. variety BL 42 revealed that significantly highest yield increase over control (exclusion of pollinators) was recorded in open pollination (125.34 %) whereas Apis mellifera Linn. pollination resulted in 115.98 per cent increase in yield over control. Seed germination was also highest in seeds obtained from open pollinated plots (90.67 %) followed by  n plots caged with A. mellifera (88.67%) and plots caged without bees (80.00%). Seed vigour was also maximum in open pollinated plots (289.12). A. mellifera pollination resulted in significantly better seed vigour (278.17) than in seeds from plots caged without bees (221.59). So, pollination by Apis mellifera resulted in higher seed yield with better seed germination and vigour than control. Pollinators other than A. mellifera also collectively resulted in improvement of these parameters.