| 1. What major problem or issue is being
resolved and how are you resolving it?
New varieties of many crops such as tomatoes are most efficiently developed through use of hybrid sterile parents. These parents, because they offer no nectar or pollen to bee pollinators and are poorly pollinated by bees. This project concerns developing attractants to increase bee pollination. 2. How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? In the case of tomatoes the problem is very serious and is the main problem in developing new varieties. The problem is important because specialty and hot-house tomatoes are highly sought by consumers and the markets can be lost without new solutions. 3. How does it relate to the national Program(s) and National Program Component(s) to which it has been assigned? This research relates to National Program 305 - Integrated Crop Production and Protection Systems (100%). The problem is one relating directly to crop production and enhancement via improved pollination and fruit set. 4. What was your most significant accomplishment this past year? A. Single Most Significant Accomplishment during FY2000: We conducted research to develop an artificial flower because that allows screening and developing new attractants much more rapidly and economically than using actual crops. With collaboration from European researchers and engineers we developed an artificial flower that is completely programmable with a computer. This prototype flower will serve as the basis for developing banks of 70 flowers that can be programmed to act like flowers in any given natural or extreme condition. B. Other Significant Accomplishment(s): The research under this project demonstrated for the first time that bees can be trained with odors either to or away from flowers. This allows addressing the problem of how to train bees not to visit unrewarding or undesired crop varieties. C. Significant Accomplishments/Activities that Support Special Target Populations: The ability to direct bees to non-rewarding flowers, brings us one step closer to solving a major problem in the tomato industry. This principle could also apply to other crops such as almonds, apples, and others that require cross pollination between cultivars or strains. D. Progress Report: The project started in October 1999 and all progress since this date is in this report. 5. Describe your major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact? This project commenced in October 1999 as an entirely new concept. 6. What do you expect to accomplish during the next year? Next year we expect to isolate and screen several new potential attractants for bees. The following year we anticipate developing a process for delivering the best attractant to crops under experimental conditions. 7. What technologies have been transferred and to whom?When is the technology likely to become available to the end user (industry, farmer other scientist)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption durability of the technology? This new project anticipates transferring technology to growers in the future, but is too new for transfers at this time. Source: Agricultural Research Service |