We studied pollination ecology of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) in three altitudinal gradients (1100, 1500, 2000 m) in the Sikkim Himalaya, with the hypothesis that both honey bees (Apis spp.) and bumble bees (Bombus braviceps, B. haemorrhoidalis) contribute to pollination and enhance yield. We placed honey bees colonies in cardamom stands, studied pollination within 50 m radius, 250 m away from it; and under control nets restricting pollinators. Honey bees showed highest number of floral visits (19.24 ± 4.23 per 12 m²) within 50 m than bumble bees (13.87 ± 3.12 per 12 m²). In 250 m stand, bumble bees visits (20.57 ± 5.31 per 12 m²) were higher than honey bees (9.44 ± 2.54 per 12 m²). Pollen removal by honey bees and bumble bees was 30–40% and 50–70% of the total pollen, respectively. Time spent across sites and treatments by honey bees ranged higher (12.87–36.25 s flower⁻¹), than bumble bees (4.60–27.80 s flower⁻¹). Visitation of bees increased with increasing number of cardamom flowers and showed positive correlation (r² = 0.46–0.55, P < 0.001). Number of capsules per spike, capsule/seed weight, and gross agronomic yield was highest within 50 m, lower in 250 m and lowest in control confirming that honey bees pollinated stand had higher yield. The study also confirmed that both honey bees and bumble bees were pollen collectors and pollination is by-product of their foraging activity on the flowers. This study suggests new insight on contribution of honey bees to large cardamom pollination and further research is needed for pollinators-large cardamom interaction.

中文翻译：

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大型豆蔻（砂仁砂仁）的授粉生物学，特别着重于蜜蜂（Apis spp。）和大黄蜂（Bombus spp。）的授粉媒介

我们在锡金喜马拉雅山的三个海拔梯度（1100、1500、2000 m）中研究了大豆蔻（砂仁）的授粉生态，并假设蜜蜂（Apis spp。）和大黄蜂（Bombus braviceps，B。haemorrhoidalis））有助于授粉并提高产量。我们在小豆蔻林中放置了蜂群，研究了距其250 m半径内50 m范围内的授粉；并在控制网内限制传粉媒介。与大黄蜂（每12 m ^2为13.87±3.12）相比，蜜蜂在50 m内的花访次数最多（每12 m ^2为19.24±4.23 ）。在250 m的看台上，大黄蜂来访（每12 m ² 20.57±5.31）高于蜜蜂（9.44±2.54每12 m ²）。蜜蜂和大黄蜂的花粉清除率分别为总花粉的30–40％和50–70％。通过蜜蜂跨站点和治疗所花费的时间范围更高（12.87-36.25花朵^-1），比熊蜂（4.60-27.80花朵^-1）。蜜蜂的 到访随着豆蔻花数量的增加而增加，并显示出正相关（r ² = 0.46-0.55，  P <0.001）。每个穗的胶囊数，胶囊/种子重量和农艺总产量在50 m以内最高，在250 m以内最低，而对照最低。这证实蜜蜂授粉的林分产量更高。研究还证实，蜜蜂和大黄蜂都是花粉的采集者，而授粉是它们在花上觅食的副产品。这项研究提出了蜜蜂对大豆蔻授粉的贡献的新见解，并且需要进一步研究传粉媒介与大豆蔻的相互作用。