Knowledge of Floral Biology, the Variation of Climatic Factors and the Role of Pollinators Significantly Improve the Yield of Cucurbita maxima Cultivation in Cameroon

Cucurbita maxima (Cucurbitaceae) is an edible, medicinal and vitamin-rich species. In Cameroon, although this plant is among the edible crops, knowledge about the relationship between this crop and pollinators is scarce. This study aims to describe the floral biology of C. maxima and the relationship between this crop and A. mellifera for their optimal exploitation. Observations were carried out at two sites (Torok and Vogzom) during the 2022 agricultural season. The growth stages of flowers buds and their daily appearance rate were recorded. Four treatments were defined at each site to assess the effectiveness of bee visits on pollination and fruit yield. The number of male flowers exceeded that of female flowers, with a sex ratio of 5:1 (♂/♀). The impact of climate factors on bee visits, fruit mass and diameter, and the number of mature fruits from the different treatments was evaluated. High temperatures decreased bee visits, as did rainy days. Flower visits for nectar collection were more frequent than those for pollen. Bees effectively promoted the pollination of female flowers during their foraging trips. There is a correlation between the number of bee visits received by female flowers and the fruit set rate per treatment. The production of good-quality fruit and seeds from this plant depends on optimal bee pollination activity. It is to Maintain climatic factors at a level favorable to pollinator activity by combating climate change.