Honors College Senior Thesis Presentations
Effects of Interplanting Zinnia elegans var. Benary’s Giant on Flower Number and Fruit Production of cucurbita pepo var. Fordhook
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Ag Business
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Megan Taylor, PhD; Alyx Shultz, PhD
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
The purpose of this research was to determine whether interplanting pollinator forage was beneficial for crop yields. Plants require pollination to produce their fruits. There are several modes of pollination including wind, gravity, and as studied here, pollinator insects. The insect pollinators that were evaluated were Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera. A narrower focus has been placed on the implications for honey bees (Apis mellifera). Observation of pollinators was performed on a per minute basis (1 minute observation) per replicate per treatment (weekly at 10:00 am). The test was conducted during the early summer growing season (May 2, 2023 - July 10, 2023). Data was collected weekly. The plot layout included 3 replicates with 10 plants, pseudo-RCBD. The crop tested was summer squash (cucurbita pepo var. Fordhook). Squash were chosen due to them being a monecious plant. Monecious plants are those that contain both male and female reproductive parts in the same flower or on the same plant, meaning that it can pollinate itself with help from the modes of pollination. The flowers that were utilized for interplanting were purple and yellow Benary Giant Zinnias (Zinnia elegans var. Benary’s Giant). Zinnias were selected based on them being a bisexual plant, meaning it has both male and female parts and can pollinate itself or cross pollinate. Additionally, the colors were selected based upon research into ultraviolet patterns on flowers that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Purple and yellow often have strong and differing reflective patterns in a range of species. Additionally, purple and yellow are opposite on a color wheel and therefore can be compared or contrasted due to their differences in wavelength, while both can still be seen by honeybees.
Fall Scholars Week 2023 Event
Honors College Senior Thesis Presentations
Effects of Interplanting Zinnia elegans var. Benary’s Giant on Flower Number and Fruit Production of cucurbita pepo var. Fordhook
The purpose of this research was to determine whether interplanting pollinator forage was beneficial for crop yields. Plants require pollination to produce their fruits. There are several modes of pollination including wind, gravity, and as studied here, pollinator insects. The insect pollinators that were evaluated were Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera. A narrower focus has been placed on the implications for honey bees (Apis mellifera). Observation of pollinators was performed on a per minute basis (1 minute observation) per replicate per treatment (weekly at 10:00 am). The test was conducted during the early summer growing season (May 2, 2023 - July 10, 2023). Data was collected weekly. The plot layout included 3 replicates with 10 plants, pseudo-RCBD. The crop tested was summer squash (cucurbita pepo var. Fordhook). Squash were chosen due to them being a monecious plant. Monecious plants are those that contain both male and female reproductive parts in the same flower or on the same plant, meaning that it can pollinate itself with help from the modes of pollination. The flowers that were utilized for interplanting were purple and yellow Benary Giant Zinnias (Zinnia elegans var. Benary’s Giant). Zinnias were selected based on them being a bisexual plant, meaning it has both male and female parts and can pollinate itself or cross pollinate. Additionally, the colors were selected based upon research into ultraviolet patterns on flowers that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Purple and yellow often have strong and differing reflective patterns in a range of species. Additionally, purple and yellow are opposite on a color wheel and therefore can be compared or contrasted due to their differences in wavelength, while both can still be seen by honeybees.