Managing flower-visiting insects is essential in <i>Castanea</i>: Enhance yield while ensuring quality.

Abstract

The role of insects in the agriculture of plants that can rely on wind for successful pollination has been a mystery. We studied the contributions of wind-, insect-, and self-pollination in <i>Castanea henryi</i> (which can receive fruits relying on the wind). The fruit set under open pollination was significantly higher than other treatments. Insects contributed 40% of fruit by their indirect or direct pollination and did not decrease fruit quality. When the stigma was receptive, floral fragrance attracted numerous insects to visit male flowers and carry pollen; however, insects rarely visit female flowers and hardly transport pollen by contacting the stigma. The flower-visiting insects density was positively correlated with air pollen density. Therefore, insects, as facilitators of wind pollination, enhance orchard fruit production. Not emphasizing the importance of wind pollination to chestnut but reminding us that insect management is also extremely important for the agriculture of plants that can be harvested by the wind.