Importance of honey bee in cherry species pollination (Kocaeli/Turkey)

This study was carried out in 3 gardens determined in Başiskele, Körfez and Karamürsel districts of Kocaeli province in 2017-2018. A cherry tree was caged and covered with a 4 mm x 4 mm perforated net before flowering to prevent the penetration of honey bees. Before the beginning of flowering, a honey bee colony was placed in 4 decares in each garden and the net was removed at the end of the flowering period. As a result of our study in two field of application gardens aged 10 and 20 (with Ziraat 900 cherry varieties), it was determined that the approximate yield of the caged tree was 1.5 kg in the garden where the bee colony was placed, whereas the other cherry trees which were not caged yielded approximately 50 kg per tree in the same garden. As a result of the study in our third field of application garden aged 7 (with Regina cherry variety), it was determined that the approximate yield of the caged tree was 2.5 kg in the garden where the bee colony was placed, whereas the other cherry trees which were not caged yielded approximately 30-35 kg per tree in the same garden. This situation concretely shows that dependency on honey bee in cherry pollination is even higher than 90%. Consequently, flowers need bees for pollination and bees need flowers for nutrition. The use of honey bees in the pollination of cherry plant should be made widespread.