Confirmation that chestnuts are insect-pollinated

Abstract

We have performed new insect-exclusion experiments to test if chestnuts are insect-pollinated, as proposed in an earlier study. We used double rather than simple nets to ensure that erect styles do not emerge outside of the nets while allowing most airborne pollen to penetrate. Our findings indicate that ≥94% of chestnut flowers are pollinated by insects. Therefore, chestnut ought to be considered as one of the most important entomophilous tree genus of the northern temperate and subtropical flora.

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