@article{fdi:010077133,
  title = {{I}s bigger better ? {A}pidae ({X}ylocopinae), megachilidae and cowpea ({V}igna unguiculata) pollination},
  author = {{W}ousla, {E}. {N}. and {A}ndargie, {M}. and {P}asquet, {R}{\'e}my and {M}ondon, {M}. and {M}enez, {V}. and {C}ochin, {C}. and {P}aul, {L}. and {P}ardon, {L}. and {R}oubaud, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{C}owpea is an important grain legume crop in {A}frica. {C}owpea flowers are capable of self-fertilization, which might be the most frequent type of reproduction. {N}evertheless, the rate of cross-pollination could vary between 1% and 10%, depending on the populations of bumblebees or domestic bees that are present, the climate and the cultivar. {T}he aim of this study was to identify and assess the efficiency rate of the pollinators of the wild cowpea, {V}igna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata var. spontanea, the progenitor of the domesticated cowpea {V}igna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata. {P}ollination study was conducted by observing patches of flowers (average 10-20/m(2)) from dawn to midday, approximately 05:00-12:30 hr for three years. {A}ll insects visiting the flowers were noted and identified to species level, where possible, and their foraging behaviour was monitored. {P}ollen grain deposit and pod set were estimated using single bee visits on plants with strictly outcrossing flowers. {M}ajor flower visitors were large bees of the family {M}egachilidae and the genus {X}ylocopa ({A}pidae, {X}ylocopinae). {X}ylocopa caffra ({L}innaeus) was the most abundant bee species, accounting for 59% of total bees observed and 58% of total flower visited. {P}od set was higher in visits by megachilid bees compared to {X}ylocopa bees. {W}ithin {X}ylocopa, there is a good correlation between size and efficiency (r = .95, p = .0477), the larger insects being more efficient. {H}oneybees, small bees ({C}eratina and {N}omia species) and {L}epidopterans also visited flowers but without any effect on pollination. {C}owpea pollination system is specialized, and pollinators are restricted to {M}egachilidae and {X}ylocopa species. {V}ariation in pollen load deposit and pod set reveals that pollination success depends on the insect species involved and their size. {M}egachilids are the most efficient pollinators, especially since they are able to promote outcrossing more efficiently than {X}ylocopa species.},
  keywords = {{M}egachilidae ; pollination ; pollination efficiency ; {V}igna unguiculata ; {X}ylocopa},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}lant {B}reeding},
  volume = {139},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {156--166},
  ISSN = {0179-9541},
  year = {2020},
  DOI = {10.1111/pbr.12763},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010077133},
}