Fungicides and strawberry pollination–Effects on floral scent, pollen attributes and bumblebee behavior

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289283
• Publication Date: 2023-07-27T17:35:11Z
• Authors: Ann-Cathrin Voß; Madeleine Hauertmann; Michelle-Celine L...; Alexander Lach; Robert R. Junker; Elisabeth J. Eilers
• Keywords: Bumblebee; Bombus terrestris; Fragaria; Pollen source

Fungicides are used in agriculture to protect crops from various fungal diseases. However, they may modulate the plants metabolism. Moreover, fungicides can accumulate environment and cause toxic effects on non-target organisms such as nectar microbes pollinators. Nectar contribute volatile profile of flowers influence pollinators behaviour. Thus, fungicide treatment could potentially affect pollination. In this study, we investigated floral attributes well behavioural impact bumblebees. separate experiments, one or both strawberry cultivars (Fragaria × ananassa var. Darselect Malwina), which were either kept untreated (control) treated with Cuprozin® progress SWITCH® fungicide. We analysed flower traits including volatiles, pollen weight, protein, attraction bumblebees towards greenhouse. Additionally, viability live-to-dead ratio, composition fungi field. A led a lower emission volatiles slightly protein content. This had no visit latency but overall frequency these flowers. The resulted higher delayed first by Furthermore, control visited more often than those two fungicides. Plant-pollinator interactions highly complex, many contributing factors. have an quality pollinator attraction, leading altered dispersal change fruit quality.