Why Are Bees Important To Apple Growers?

Date:  3rd March 2021

Here we’ll look at a number of scientific research papers examining why bees are important to apple growers.

However, the short answer is:
Pollination by insects (and especially solitary bees and honey bees),  increases apple yield and weight, as well as fruit quality. 

Research suggests that a lack of pollinators (in this case, especially bees) has a negative impact on apple production, which in turn has financial impacts.

Research Exploring Importance Of Bees To Apple Growers

2012 New Zealand Field Study, Palmer-Jones & Clinch¹ 
In this study, it was concluded that fruit set of a Cox Orange Pippin variety of apple depended almost entirely upon insect visitation to flowers, and that honey bees were by far the most important pollinators.

2013 UK Field Study, Garratt et al²
Showed that solitary bee activity in Cox apple orchards in Kent UK, made a significant contribution to pollination. 

They also demonstrate the importance of insect pollination for increasing fruit set, seed set, increased apple weight and higher sugar content in Cox apples.
 

2013 Ramírez, Fernando & Davenport, Thomas³
State that:  “The most common insect pollinator of apple is the honey bee.

Other effective pollinator species include Hymenopterans [includes bees and wasps], Dipterans [flies] and Coleopterans [beetles]”.

2016 UK Field Study, Garratt et al⁵
Found that solitary bees provided the highest contribution to pollination of apples in the orchards studied.  The contribution of insect pollinators to the economic output in Cox, Gala, Bramley and Braeburn apple varieties was estimated to be £92.1M across the UK, with contributions varying widely across taxa: solitary bees (£51.4M), honeybees (£21.4M), bumblebees (£18.6M) and hoverflies (£0.7M).   

 

2020 Worldwide importance of insect pollination in apple orchards: A review, Pardo & Borges⁶
The researchers state that apple trees depend greatly on insect pollination from bees and hoverflies to achieve high yields and obtain fruits of acceptable marketable quality.  

They assert there is “Substantial evidence from qualitative analyses supports the fact that insect pollination is essential for ensuring both yields and fruit quality in apple orchards across different regions.

Besides, a significant proportion of studies showed that wild pollinators are abundant in apple orchards and they are frequently more effective pollinators than honey bees”.

References:

(1) T. Palmer-Jones & P. G. Clinch (1966) Observations on the pollination of apple trees (Malussylvestris Mill.), New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 9:2, 191-196, DOI: 10.1080/00288233.1966.10420773

(2) M. P. D. Garratt, C. L. Truslove, D. J. Coston, R. L. Evans, E. D. Moss, C. Dodson, N. Jenner, J. C. Biesmeijer and S. G. Potts. POLLINATION DEFICITS IN UK APPLE ORCHARDS. Journal of Pollination Ecology, Vol 12, 2014.

(3) Ramírez, Fernando & Davenport, Thomas. (2013). Apple pollination: A review. Scientia Horticulturae. 162. 188–203. 10.1016/j.scienta.2013.08.007.

(4)Garratt MP, Breeze TD, Jenner N, Polce C, Biesmeijer JC, Potts SG. Avoiding a bad apple: Insect pollination enhances fruit quality and economic value. Agric Ecosyst Environ. 2014;184(100):34-40. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2013.10.032

(5)Garratt MP, Breeze TD, Boreux V, et al. Apple Pollination: Demand Depends on Variety and Supply Depends on Pollinator Identity. PLoS One. 2016;11(5):e0153889. Published 2016 May 6. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153889

(6) Pardo, Adara & Borges, Paulo. (2020). Worldwide importance of insect pollination in apple orchards: A review. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment. 293. 10.1016/j.agee.2020.106839.