Insect pollination by Hymenoptera Apoïdea (contact: J. Pierre)

The Insect pollination is the result of the pollen transfer by the insects from stamen to sigma. The Apoïds (Hymenoptera: Apoïdea) such as Honeybee, solitary bees and several species of bumblebees are the major pollen vectors implied in this biotic pollination.
To understand this particular insect/plant relation, it is necessary to study the biology and the behaviour of both facing elements.
The plant reproductive biology (breeding system, pollen and stigma biology, outcrossing rate) is studied in collaboration with plant breeders (UMR APBV of Rennes).
Considering the insects, the study of their behaviour is a way to assess how the pollen transfer can occur. An efficient pollen transfer occurs when the insect is attracted at the same time by the male and female flowers when each one is in its reproductive phase.
Visits to male and female flowers by the insects have to be associated respectively to pollen loading and pollen deposition. The flight range between parental flowers is also of some importance in pollen dispersal. During the transfer, the pollen must be kept viable and quantitatively sufficient to pollinate the stigma which in turn must be receptive.
In an agronomical point of view, the pollination can be considered according to two opposite objectives:

Biological model :

Relations Bumblebee/Tomato
Study under commercial glass greenhouse with Bombus terrestris

Methods :

Theoretical model :
Optimal foraging theory (Ideal Free distribution, Departure rule)