The honey bee (Apis melli/era) behaviour and its pollination efficiency on
sunflower hybrid seed production under different modes of pollination were studied.
Caging with nylon mosquito net affected both the bee behaviour and its activity mainly
due to differential micro environmental conditions, such as light and relative humldity.There
was no effect of caging on air temperature. Per cent seed setting and number of seed per
capitulum were at par under open and caged bee polliation conditions when compared
with hand pollination. The seed weight was however, significantly low in caged bee and
hand pollinated capitula compared to open pollinated capitula.
