Co-Authors:
Vaknin, Y., Department of Plant Sciences, George S. Wise Fac. of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Department of Plant Sciences, George S. Wise Fac. of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel
Gan-Mor, S., Inst. of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, Inst. of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Bechar, A., Dept. of Indust. Eng. and Management, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel, Dept. of Indust. Eng. and Management, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
Ronen, B., Inst. of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, Inst. of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Eisikowitch, D., Department of Plant Sciences, George S. Wise Fac. of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel, Department of Plant Sciences, George S. Wise Fac. of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel
Abstract:
This paper reviews research on the role of electrostatic forces in pollination, both in natural and in agricultural systems. Researchers from various fields of biological studies have reported phenomena which they related to electrostatic forces. The theory of electrostatically mediated pollen transfer between insect pollinators and the flowers they visit is described, including recent studies which confirmed that the accumulated charges on airborne honey bees are sufficient for non-contact pollen detachment by electrostatic forces (i.e., electrostatic pollination). The most important morphological features in flower adaptiveness to electrostatic pollination were determined by means of two theoretical models of a flower exposed to an approaching charged cloud of pollen; they are style length and flower opening. Supplementary pollination by using electrostatic techniques is reported, and its possible importance in modern agriculture is discussed.