Low hybrid onion seed yields relate to honey bee visits and insecticide use

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" Low hybrid onion seed yields relate to honey bee visits and insecticide use "
Long, Rachael Freeman; Morandin, Lora

Document Type	:	AL
Record Number	:	944788
Doc. No	:	LA27x3c05d
Language of Document	:	English
Main Entry	:	Long, Rachael Freeman; Morandin, Lora
Title & Author	:	Low hybrid onion seed yields relate to honey bee visits and insecticide use [Article]\ Long, Rachael Freeman; Morandin, Lora
Title of Periodical	:	California Agriculture
Volume/ Issue Number	:	65/3
Date	:	2011
Abstract	:	Onion thrips, previously considered of minor importance to hybrid onion seed production in California, vector the newly introduced iris yellow spot virus, a serious pathogen of onions that can cause significant yield losses. Insecticide use to control onion thrips has increased in onion seed fields, coincident with a steep decrease in yields, especially in Colusa County. We examined a number of possible contributing factors and found a strong positive correlation between honey bee activity and onion seed set, indicating that a lack of pollination may be contributing to the reduced yields. In addition, honey bee visits to onion flowers were negatively correlated with the number of insecticides applied per field and field size. Reduced onion seed yields in recent years could be associated with the increase in insecticide use, which may be repelling or killing honey bees, important pollinators of this crop.