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Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

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

Hebri Sanda*,  Angoni Hyacinthe,  Albert Tchopwe Menkamla,  Zephirin Oumarou Haman,  Maralossou Benoit,  Tchobsala
Published in Medicine and Life Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 1)
Received: 16 December 2025     Accepted: 4 January 2026     Published: 9 February 2026
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Abstract

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.

Published in Medicine and Life Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.mls.20260201.13
Page(s) 23-36
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group
Previous article
Keywords

Floral Biology, Cucurbita maxima, Apis mellifera, Pollination, Pollinator Efficiency, Resilient Farming

1. Introduction
Agriculture is a sector that largely ensures food self-sufficiency and employs over 60% of the Cameroonian workforce. Cameroonian agricultural production accounts for more than half (52.3%) of the country's total agricultural output and makes it the largest supplier of agricultural products to countries in Central Africa
[1]
. Despite this significant performance in agricultural production, the sector's contribution to Cameroon's GDP has gradually declined, falling from 44% in 2004 to 17% in 2021
[2]
. This decline in the agricultural sector's contribution to GDP has directly resulted in a deterioration of the population's living standards. With high rates of food insecurity in the Sudan-Sahelian zone (24.8%) in the Far North and (16.8%) in the North, while the national poverty rate stands at 37.7% [3, 4], and given the political will to preserve food self-sufficiency, one solution to these challenges would be the diversification of agricultural production, particularly the development of local edible resources [3, 5].
Cucurbita maxima, or pumpkin, is a monoecious food plant that is part of the indigenous crops of Cameroon and is cultivated in association with other crops [6-8]. It is widely cultivated as a vegetable for its fruits, seeds, and leaves, all of which are edible and rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and potassium, useful in the prevention of kidney stones
[9]
. The fruits, seeds, and leaves exhibit various pharmacological effects, such as antidiabetic, antiulcer, analgesic, nephroprotective, and anticancer effects
[10]
. Global squash production increased from 15,186,469.4 tonnes in 2020 to 18,306,860.06 tonnes in 2023. China is the world's leading producer, with 7,374,060.7 tonnes, representing 45% of total production. Algeria is the leading producer in Africa and 11th globally, with 455,140.94 tonnes
[11]
. The fruit yield of C. maxima varies from 20 to 30 tonnes per hectare (t/ha) in organic open-field cultivation
[12]
. Protecting pollinators is one of the major challenges that can optimize agricultural production, thereby reducing the impact of climate change on food security
[13]
.
Pollination is a key factor in the sexual reproduction of many plant species. The symbiosis between insects and plants allows for the maintenance of biodiversity through cross-pollination and the sustainability of certain ecosystems
[14]
. Overall, the financial value of the ecological and economic services provided by bees annually is increasing; it has risen from $153 billion, or approximately 76.5 trillion FCFA
[15]
to $577 billion in 2018
[16]
. Knowledge of the pollinating insects of different cultivated plants and ensuring the protection of these insect populations is therefore more than necessary to preserve our food security
[13]
. With regard to Cucurbitaceae, several scientific studies have confirmed their dependence on entomophilous pollinators, as their pollen grains are sticky and cannot be transported by the wind [17-23].
In Cameroon, studies have been conducted on C. maxima, particularly on its classification and botanical description [6, 24], as well as on the nutritional potential of its seeds [25, 26]. The distribution and cultivation practices of C. maxima and Cucurbita moschata has been studied in the Central, Eastern, and Western regions
[8]
. However, research on Cucurbita maxima is scarce, or even nonexistent, in some regions of Cameroon. This could explain the lack of reliable statistical data regarding the cultivated area and annual production of this food in the country. Given the importance of the edibility of Cucurbita maxima products for the population, its dependence on pollinators, and the need to diversify agricultural resources to ensure food security, further studies on Cucurbita maxima are necessary to complement existing data on Cucurbitaceae pollinators. According to the work of Tchuenguem,
[27]
the flower insect fauna and its impact on pollination and crop yield can vary spatially and temporally.
The main objective of this work was to contribute to the understanding of the floral biology of C. maxima and the relationship between this crop and A. mellifera for their optimal exploitation. Specifically, it aimed to analyze the floral biology of C. maxima, study the activity of flower-visiting insects on this plant, and evaluate the impact of A. mellifera on crop yield.
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Location of Study Sites
Field observations were conducted in 2022 at Torok, located between latitude (10°0'0''N) and longitude (15°0'0''E) at an altitude of 195 m, and Vogzom, located between latitude (8°0'0''N) and longitude (15°0'0''E) at an altitude of 205 m, each covering an area of approximately 400 m2 in Cameroon (Figure 1). These sites were chosen due to the high number of Cucurbita maxima producers, the presence of farmers' fields cultivating other crops, and the guarantee of safety for both the experimental plots and the observer.
Figure 1. Location maps of study sites.
2.2. Study of the Floral Biology of C. maxima in a Culture System
2.2.1. Study of the Growth Stages of C. maxima Flower Buds
To assess the various morphological changes and identify the different developmental stages from bud to open flower, 100 male and 60 female flower buds were randomly selected. Upon opening, the peduncle length and diameter of both male and female flowers were measured. A flower is considered open when it is fully open and developed, having reached its full potential for growth and beauty
[28]
.
2.2.2. Study of the Flowering Rhythm of Male and Female Flowers in Cucurbita Maxima
From the beginning to the end of the flowering period of this plant, the number of open male and female flowers and their arrangement on the stem in each experimental plot were recorded each morning. The observations were made row by row and planting hole by planting hole, and the number of open or fully opened male and female flowers per plant per day was recorded throughout the entire flowering period
[28]
. This allowed researchers to assess the daily flowering rate of flowers of different sexes and deduce the sex ratio
[29]
.
2.3. Study of Insect Activity on Flowers Cucurbita maxima
2.3.1. Inventory of Insect Diversity on Cucurbita maxima Flowers
To collect data on bee activity on Cucurbita maxima flowers, a randomized experimental design was used at both study sites. Twenty-four plants were randomly selected and divided into two blocks. Female flowers from these two blocks were labeled, and two treatments were defined
[27]. 
Treatment A (T1) (consisting of 12 plants, 30 of which female flowers were labeled and left in free pollination, i.e. accessible to floral visits by bees) and Treatment B (T0) consisting of 30 female flowers isolated from bee visits. Observations were made daily on the flowers of C. maxima plants left to undergo free pollination (T1) or block (A) between 6:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (periods corresponding to the beginning and end of insect visits) during its flowering period
[29]
. Anthophilous insect activity was recorded during four daily time slots: 6–7:00 a.m., 8–9:00 a.m., 10–11:00 a.m., and 12–1:00 p.m. During each observation period, a single pass was made in front of each labeled plant in block A, and the number of bees on open flowers, the floral products collected, and the duration of their visits were recorded. The cumulative results of the various recordings throughout the flowering period allowed for the calculation of the relative abundance and average duration of Apis mellifera visits per site
[30]
. The Shannon diversity index of two sites was deduced in order to assess species richness
[31]
.
2.3.2. Description of the Influence of Varying Climatic Factors on Insects’ Activity
Climatic factors strongly influence insect foraging activity. Temperature and humidity at the study site were recorded twice per daily observation period using a portable thermo-hygrometer. Average values for each observation period were calculated, and linear relationships were established with daily variations in flower-visiting insect activity. The effects of wind, sunshine, rain, and cloud cover were also noted
[32]
.
2.4. Impact of A. mellifera on Cucurbita maxima Crop Yield
2.4.1. Pollination Efficiency
A treatment (C) was defined and subdivided into four sub-treatments. This study aimed to investigate the pollination efficiency of C. maxima female flowers by Apis mellifera. Treatment C (T2) consisted of 10 female flowers, each receiving a single visit from A. mellifera; treatment C (T3) consisted of 10 female flowers, each receiving two simultaneous visits from A. mellifera; and treatment C (T4) consisted of 10 female flowers, each receiving three simultaneous visits from A. mellifera. The marking, isolation, and labeling of the female flowers were carried out the day before they opened
[22]
. Early on the day of their opening, the mosquito netting was removed from the female flowers to allow them to be visited by A. mellifera. They were visited either simultaneously or consecutively by the same individual bee or by other bees. Once the predetermined number of visits for the flower was reached, it was protected again
[33]
. The following day, the netting was removed to monitor the development of any potential fruit until its eventual maturity. The reappearing petals allowed for precise determination of the imminent opening of the female flowers in question
[34]
. The experimental setup used in this study was the same at both sites (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Free female flowers (a); isolated (b) and one that has received a visit from a bee (c).
2.4.2. Influence of Apis Mellifera Visits on the Growth Parameters and Fruit Yield of C. maxima
The growth parameters (diameters and masses) of the fruits under each treatment were recorded using a measuring tape and a precision electronic balance to determine the different growth phases in volume and weight. These parameters were recorded for both immature and mature fruits. The diameter (cm) and mass (kg) of immature fruits were recorded immediately upon their abortion or detachment from the mother plant
[29]
.
Calculation of the pollination rate attributable to pollinating insects
To calculate the pollination rate attributable to pollinating insects, mature C. maxima fruits were weighed using kitchen scales and cut open with a machete. The total number of seeds per fruit, including both mature (SM) and immature seeds (SI), was recorded. The type of seeds allowed for the estimation of the pollination rate (P): P (%) = {[(SM /ST + SI)] /100} according to Gingrass
[35]
.
Determination of fruit set and seed maturity attributable to pollinating insects
In the 5 treatments, the fruiting rate is determined by [(number of fruits formed/number of female flowers studied) x 100]. The fruiting rate (% Rfr) attributable to anthophile insects is estimated by the formula (%Rfr) = {[(TA – TB) / TA] x 100} where TA and TB are respectively the fruiting rates in treatment A (female flowers without protection) and in treatment B (female flowers protected from the floral activity of insects)
[32]
. Just as with the calculation of the fruiting rate due to pollinating insects, the same reasoning is applied to the calculation of the percentage of mature seeds per fruit due to the floral activity of anthophilous insects (%PMS) = {[(TA – TB) / TA] x 100} where TA and TB are respectively the fruiting rates in treatments A and B
[36]
.
Calculation of the rate of ripe fruit and abortion
All mature fruits (Fm) and all female flowers (Ff) are counted, allowing the calculation of the mature fruit percentage (%Mfr) using the following formula: (%Mfr) = {(Fm/Ff) x 100}. The abortion rate (%R) in each treatment was deduced using the formula: (%R) = 100 – (%M)
[37]
.
3. Results
3.1. Study of Floral Biology
3.1.1. Growth Stages of C. maxima Flower Buds
Flowering begins 30 days after seed emergence; male flower buds (♂) appear first (Figure 3M), followed by female buds (♀) a week later (Figure 3F). It has been noted that the flower buds that originate on the the main stem and primary branches are male. Subsequent branches bear a or two female flower buds and several males. Monitoring bud growth Floral observation up to full bloom performed on 160 buds Male and female floral elements allowed for identification five identical developmental stages in the male flower and female. The first stage: closed button (CB) is characterized by a small-diameter flower bud that is completely closed and green in color. Then the flower bud grows in volume as the sepals lengthen and open (second stage: sepals open, SO). The transition from stage CB to stage SO takes on average three days. This is followed by a wider opening of the sepals, which reveals the petals which are of lemon-yellow color (third stage: small pimple yellow, SPY). The next stage is characterized by petals still closed but more elongated and colored yellow (fourth stage: large yellow bump, LYB) which is the stage preceding the blooming of the flower (fifth stage: fully opened flower, FOF). From the stage SO, the transition through each stage lasts one day, so that Six days after the appearance of the flower bud, the flower is in full bloom. The flower remains open for half a day. Then the petals wither and fall the next day. The length of the flower peduncle and the diameter of the open flower are of 10.14 ± 2.72 mm and 16.54 ± 2.26 mm for the flower’s males and 8.06 ± 3.21 mm and 20.73 ± 3.43 mm for the female flowers.
Figure 3. Appearance of the first male (M) and female (F) flower buds.
3.1.2. Flowering Rhythm of Male and Female Flowers in Cucurbita maxima
Throughout the flowering period, it was observed that for each plant, the number of male flowers was significantly higher than the number of female flowers every day (Figure 4). Flower opening began very early (5:00 a.m.) and all flowers opened at sunrise, i.e., 6:00 a.m. The flowers gradually closed from noon until 1:00 p.m., depending on the amount of sunlight. The daily peak of male flowers was 83, while it was 32 for female flowers at both sites. The total number of male flowers obtained during the flowering of 72 pumpkin plants in this study was 1274, and the number of female flowers was 274 at Vogzom. At Torok, the figures were 1250 male flowers and 245 female flowers. The number of male and female flowers was relatively similar between the two sites. The average number of male flowers per plant was 17 and 18 at Torok and Vogzom, respectively. In contrast, the average number of female flowers per plant was 3 and 4 at Torok and Vogzom, respectively. Based on these figures, the estimated sex ratio of C. maxima from our experimental plots at both sites is identical, i.e., (♂/♀) 5:1.
Figure 4. Rhythm of appearance of male and female flowers in Cucurbita maxima.
Overall, the greater the number of male flowers, the higher the probability of female flowers appearing. This variation between the two flowers led to the observation of a significant positive linear regression between male and female flowers (y = 2.6172x + 15.711) with a coefficient of determination R2 = 0.7121 (df = 1.2; p< 0.05). This coefficient of determination indicates that 71% of the variation in the number of male flowers influences the appearance of female flowers, as illustrated by Figure 5.
Figure 5. Linear regression between female and male flowers of C. maxima.
3.2. Insect Activity on Cucurbita maxima Flowers
3.2.1. Biological Diversity of Insects on C. maxima Flowers
At the order level, the flower-visiting insects of pumpkins in Vogzom are divided into three main orders of unequal importance according to their relative abundance. The order Hymenoptera is predominant with 85.58%, followed by Coleoptera and Diptera with relative abundances of 9.13% and 5.29%, respectively. The flower-visiting insects of pumpkins were grouped into four families, with Apidae being the most numerous (82.06%). Five species of anthophilous insects were recorded as active on the flowers of C. maxima, the honeybee A. mellifera being the most prominent with a relative abundance of visits of 82.06%; this bee is the only representative of the Apidae family. The other species, in descending order of relative abundance, are: Drosophila melanogaster (5.29%), Monolepta intermedia (4.93%), Monolepta bioculata (4.20%) and Lasioglossum sp. (3.52%). Overall, the flower-dwelling insect fauna of Cucurbita maxima at Vogzom is poorly diversified and largely dominated by A. mellifera.
In contrast, at Torok, the flower-visiting insect fauna of Cucurbita maxima is divided into three orders of unequal relative abundance. The order Hymenoptera is dominant at 82.3%, followed by Lepidoptera and Diptera at 11.1% and 3.4% relative abundance, respectively. Regarding family, flower-visiting insects are distributed among nine families, dominated by Apidae at 77.55%. Fifteen species of anthophilous insects have been recorded as active on C. maxima flowers, with A. mellifera being dominant at 40.5% relative abundance, while Trinchostoma sjostedti is the weakest (0.9%). Overall, the flower-visiting insect fauna of Cucurbita maxima at Torok is not very diverse and is dominated by A. mellifera. The two sites (Torok and Vogzom) are independent in terms of the number of species (t = 34; df = 17; p-value = 0.861) at the 5% significance level. The results of the biological diversity of the flower-visiting insect fauna associated with C. maxima Vogzom and Torok (Table 1).
From these relative abundances of flower-visiting insects, we can deduce the Shannon diversity index, H' = 2.70 (Torok) and H' = 1.03 (Vogzom). The difference between the Shannon diversity indices is significant (at the 5% level) between the two sites, indicating that the use of insecticides in farming practices at Vogzom has an impact on insect biodiversity. The overuse of synthetic chemicals is one of the major causes of the decline in insect biodiversity, despite the crucial role insects play in maintaining and functioning the ecosystem.
Table 1. Relative abundances of flower-visiting insects of C. maxima at Torok and Vogzom.

Flower-growing insects

Far North

North

Torok

Vogzom

Order

Family

Genus and Species

n 1

f 1 (%)

n 2

f 2 (%)

Hymenoptera

Apidae

Apis mellifera

528

40.5

1349

82.06

Xylocopa inconstant

261

19.7

-

-

Xylocopa pubescens

195

14.7

-

-

Xylocopa olive tree

42

3.2

-

-

Total Apidae

4

1026

77.55

1349

82.06

Halictidae

Liporichs collaris

42

3.2

--

Lasioglossum sp.

-

-

58

3.52

Trinchostoma sjostedti

12

0.9

-

-

Total Halictidae

3

54

4.1

-

-

Megachilidae

Megachile aurifera

51

3.9

-

-

Total Megachilidae

1

51

3.9

58

3.52

Total Hymenoptera

4

8

1089

82.3

1407

85.58

Coleoptera

Chrysomelidae

Monolepta intermedia

-

-

81

4.93

Monolepta bioculata

-

-

69

4.2

Total Chrysomelidae

2

-

-

150

9.13

Total Coleoptera

1

2

-

-

150

9.13

Diptera

Syrphidae

Phytomia sp.

15

1.1

-

-

1 sp.

12

0.9

-

-

Total Syrphidae

2

27

2.00

-

-

Drosophilidae

Drosophila melanogaster

18

1.4

87

5.29

Total Drosophilidae

1

18

1.4

87

5.29

Total Diptera

2

3

45

3.40

87

5.29

Lepidoptera

Nymphalidea

Hypolimnas misippus

48

3.6

-

-

Total Nymphalidea

1

48

3.6

-

-

Papilionidea

Papilio demodecus

30

2.3

-

-

Total Papilionidea

1

30

2.3

-

-

Pieridae

Eurema exima

21

1.6

-

-

Catopsilia florella

15

1.1

-

-

Total Pieridae

2

36

2.7

-

-

Acraeidae

Acraea acerata

33

2.5

-

-

Total Acraeidae

1

33

2.5

-

-

Total Lepidoptera

4

5

147

11.1

-

-

Total

10

18

1323

100.0

1644

100.0
3.2.2. Influence of Climatological Parameters on Bee Activity
Overall, insect abundance on C. maxima flowers is correlated with the number of flowers open per day. This observation shows that visits become more frequent as the number of open flowers increases (Figure 6). There is a positive and significant correlation between the number of open flowers and visitor abundance at both Torok (r = 0.93; df = 14; P < 0.001) and Vogzom (r = 0.92; df = 4; P > 0.01). This correlation highlights the high attractiveness of the floral products of this cucurbit to pollinators. However, the abundance of flower visits by flower-visiting insects is influenced by temperature and humidity depending on the observation days. Floral visits are most frequent in the morning, when the temperature is low (18°C) and the relative humidity is high (80.36%). Visits by flower-visiting insects gradually decrease as the temperature rises and the relative humidity falls. Overall, insect visits to flowers are strongly correlated with variations in air temperature and relative humidity.
Figure 6. Insect visits as a function of open flowers (a) and abiotic factors (b).
3.3. Impact of A. mellifera on the Yield of Cucurbita maxima
3.3.1. Impact of Apis mellifera on the Pollination of Cucurbita maxima
During their visits to Cucurbita maxima flowers, bees actively collected nectar and pollen at both study sites. After careful observation of Apis mellifera behavior during pollen and/or nectar collection on the flowers of this plant, it was found that these bees frequently came into contact with the anthers (male flowers) and the stigma (female flowers). The highest number of individuals simultaneously active on a single open flower averaged 3 (3.26 ± 1.45) for A. mellifera at both sites (Figure 7).
Figure 7. Cucurbita maxima flower being foraged by several worker bees.
3.3.2. Influence of Bee Visits on the Growth Parameters and Fruit Yields of C. maxima
The average fruit diameter ranged from 16.57 cm in treatment T1 to 0.52 cm in treatment T3 and 6.26 cm in treatment T4. The average fruit mass was 4.26 kg in treatment T1, 0.11 kg in treatment T3, and 0.87 kg in treatment T4. The abortion rate was 90% in T3, 80% in T4, and 100% in treatments T0 and T2. The growth parameters of the formed fruits increased with the number of bee visits to the female flowers; the more bee visits to the female flowers, the better the characteristics of the formed fruits, and vice versa (Figure 8).
The fruit set rate was 93.33% in treatment A, 0% in treatment B, and 43.33% in treatment C. The overall comparison indicated a significant difference between treatments A, B, and C (χ2 = 52.77; df = 2; P < 0.05) and between treatments A and C (χ2 = 17.33; df = 1; P < 0.05). The average number of mature seeds per fruit was 255.31 ± 51.02 in treatment A, 15 in treatment C, and zero in treatment B, as no fruit formed. The pollination rate was deduced from the ratio of the total number of mature seeds (TNMS) obtained to the total number of seeds (TNS), which reflects the total number of ovules obtained. This rate was [(6521/6638) x 100] = 98.23% in treatment (A) and 35.71% in treatment (C). This high rate in treatment (A) indicates that good pollination leads to good fertilization and increased yields of high-quality seeds and fruit in C. maxima. Although the flowers in treatment (A) received significant bee visits, it was observed that some female flowers failed to develop fruit, with a rate of approximately 7.14% (Table 2). The statistical test reveals the existence of a highly significant difference between the rate of fruiting of the treatments (T0, T1, T3 and T4) with χ2 global = 189.45; df = 4; P < 0.001 at a significance level of 5%.
Overall, the larger the fruit, the higher the number of mature seeds it generally contains. There is a significant positive regression equation between fruit mass and diameter (y = 102.57x + 36.418) with a coefficient of determination R2 = 0.89 (df = 1.19; p < 0.05). This coefficient of determination indicates that 89% of the variation in the number of mature seeds influences the resulting fruit mass (Figure 9).
Table 2. Evaluation of C. maxima yield according to treatments at Torok and Vogzom.

Parameters studied

Treatment A

Treatment B

Treatment C

Torok

Vogzom

Torok

Vogzom

Torok

Vogzom

Number of female flowers studied

30

30

30

30

30

30

Number of fruits formed

23

28

0

0

8

13

Fruits formed (%)

76.67

93.33

0

0

26.66

43.33

Number of ripe fruits obtained

12

26

0

0

0

2 ***

Ripe fruit (%)

52.17

92.85

0

0

0

15.38

Total number of seeds obtained

3028

6638

0

0

0

84

Number of mature seeds

2925

6521

0

0

0

30

Mature seeds obtained (%)

96.60

98.23

0

0

0

35.71

Number of immature seeds

103

117

0

0

0

54

Immature seeds obtained (%)

3.40

1.76

0

0

0

64.28

Average number of mature seeds /fruits

252 ± 38

255 ± 51

0

0

0

15

Abortion rate (%)

48.00

7.15

100.00

100.00

100.00

85.00
Legend: ***: flowers having received three visits (T4).
Figure 8. Influence of the number of bee visits on the formation and mass of fruit formed by treatment.
Figure 9. Linear relationship between fruit mass and number of mature seeds.
4. Discussion
The results of the experiments reveal that there are five identical growth stages of male and female flower buds until they open. The first flowers to open are male, and the female flowers appear seven days later. The flowers of C. maxima have a short lifespan; they open very early and close at 1 p.m. Similar results were observed in another species of the Cucurbitaceae family, Cucumis melo L. var. agrestis, in Ivory Coast and Cucurbita. moschata in Dang (Ngaoundere) [28, 29]. The sex ratio of Cucurbita maxima based on observations from this study was (♂/♀= 5:1), which is contrary to that obtained by Dje
[28]
on Cucumis melo L. var. agrestis, which was (♂/♀= 15:3), while Nepi & Paccini
[38]
obtained a sex ratio of (♂/♀= 9:7) on Cucurbita these species all belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. The difference in sex ratio between these species could be due to ecological and environmental factors, such as soil fertility, rainfall, and the local varieties of species cultivated by farmers. The significant variation in the number of female and male flowers from one plant to another is explained by the action of enzymes (gibberellin, abscisic acid, ethylene, and auxins) which, according to Odet's findings, regulate the proportions of flowers of different sexes in Cucurbitaceae
[39]
.
Cucurbita maxima cultivation in Vogzom comprises 3 orders, 4 families, and 5 species, while in Torok it consists of 3 orders, 9 families, and 15 species. The insect fauna associated with this crop is sparse in Vogzom and less diverse in Torok. Studies by other authors on other cultivated and wild Cucurbita ceae species mention a relatively high number of flower-visiting insect species. Azo'o, recorded 38 insect species on Citrullus lanatus, 35 on Cucumeropsis mannii and 14 on Abelmoschus esculentus flowers in Yaounde
[36]
. Although overall the flower insect fauna varies from one plant species to another, the overuse of chemicals by farmers would also be a cause of the decrease in insect biodiversity in the context of this study.
Among the insect species identified at the two sites, A. mellifera was the most abundant, with a relative abundance of 82.06% and 40.5% at Vogzom and Torok, respectively. Honeybees are known to be the main flower-visiting insects for other Cucurbitaceae species, as documented by several authors [23, 35, 37, 40-44].
The activity of Apis mellifera, particularly on the flowers of C. maxima, is predominant at 6–7 a.m. and ends around midday (12–1 p.m.), marked by the closing of the flowers of this plant. It is known in the literature that pumpkin flowers, like other Cucurbitaceae species, have an ephemeral lifespan [45, 46] of which they produce a lot of nectar in the morning from anthesis onwards. Thus, the peak of bee activity on the flowers of plant species is generally correlated with the greater availability of floral resources such as nectar and pollen [46, 47]. The results of this study also show a significant positive correlation between the daily flowering rate and the number of flower visits by insects in general, and Apidae in particular. These results corroborate those of several other authors [31, 47, 48]. The rate of bee visits gradually decreases as the temperature rises, and the same is true during rainy days. To benefit from the ecosystem services provided by bees, it is essential to combat climate change in order to maintain temperatures at a level favorable to their activities. Climate change significantly affects pollinator activity and consequently the production of many crops, thus causing famine and poverty according to Potts
[49]
.
During their foraging visits to the staminate flowers of C. maxima, A. mellifera would contact the anthers and passively collect pollen using their thick fur. Passing over the female flowers, the foragers would come into contact with the stigmas and induce pollination of the visited female flowers. In entomophilous plants, including C. maxima [50, 51], pollination requires pollen transfer via the bees' integument. Pollen retained by the bees' hairs is the most suitable for pollination
[52]
. The peak activity of honeybees at the moment flowers open (6-7 a.m.) coincides with the period of stamen maturity and stigma receptivity in Cucurbitaceae
[53]
. Indeed, in Cucurbitaceae, when the flowers are open, the pollen is dehiscent and the stigma receptive for at least two hours
[53]
.
The optimal yield of mature fruits and grains was obtained in treatment T1 (free flowers), while it was zero in treatment T0 (female flowers isolated from bee activity) at both sites. Optimal yield is determined by the number of bee visits received by the female flowers of Cucurbita maxima. These results are consistent with those of Phillipe and Pablo [54, 55]: the more pollen grains a female flower receives, the greater its potential to develop into a large fruit containing numerous mature seeds. These correlations explain why effective entomophilous pollination leads to the production of good-quality fruit. Conversely, poor pollination of female flowers results in reduced yield and poor-quality fruit. This explains why, in treatments T2, T3 and T4, at both Vogzom and Torok, the abortion rate is high and the ripening fruits are of poor quality. The production of this Cucurbitaceae depends on the optimal pollination activity of A. mellifera, according to the results of several authors' work [17, 19-21]. The average mass of fruit from female flowers left for open pollination (T1) in this study was 4.26 kg, which is lower than that of Isuta & Mallowa
[56]
who obtained up to 7.5 kg. Cordova, mentions that several factors can influence agricultural yield, including: variety, climate, cropping system, soil characteristics, and pollinator availability
[18]
.
5. Conclusion
The first flower buds are male, and there are five identical developmental stages in the male flower. as in the female flower from bud to open flower. The estimated value of the sex ratio of C. maxima from experimentation is (♂/♀) 5:1. The flower-visiting insect fauna associated with C. maxima cultivation in Vogzom, as in Torok, is generally not very diverse. Pollination of the female flowers is primarily ensured by Apis mellifera, which played a significant role in the fertilization of this crop. During their foraging, the bees moved from flower to flower, transferring pollen grains from the male flowers to the stigmas of the female flowers, thus fertilizing the ovaries. Experiments showed that the more frequently a female flower receives bee visits, the more pollen it receives, and the greater the fruit and seed production. Therefore, the minimum number of bee visits to the female pumpkin flowers that guarantees crop yield is, on average, three visits in this study. All 30 female flowers protected from insect visits (To) systematically aborted. Overall, honeybee activity determines the fruit and seed production of Cucurbita maxima. The average weight of T1 fruits from experimental fields at two sites, each with an area of 400 m2, was 4.26 ± 1.12 kg. One of the important factors for optimizing the production of high-quality fruit and seeds of C. maxima is combating the decline of pollinating insects by avoiding the use of chemical pesticides in cultivation practices and promoting beekeeping.
Abbreviations

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

Rfr

Fruiting Rate

MS

Mature Seeds

Fm

Mature Fruits

Ff

Female Flowers

AR

Abortion Rate

Mfr

Mature Fruit

SI

Immature Seeds

CB

Closed Button

SO

Sepals Open

SPY

Small Pimple Yellow

LYB

Large Yellow Bump

FOF

Fully Opened Flower

TNS

Total Number of Seeds

TNMS

Total Number of Mature Seeds
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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    Sanda, H., Hyacinthe, A., Menkamla, A. T., Haman, Z. O., Benoit, M., et al. (2026). Knowledge of Floral Biology, the Variation of Climatic Factors and the Role of Pollinators Significantly Improve the Yield of Cucurbita maxima Cultivation in Cameroon. Medicine and Life Sciences, 2(1), 23-36. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.13

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    Sanda, H.; Hyacinthe, A.; Menkamla, A. T.; Haman, Z. O.; Benoit, M., et al. Knowledge of Floral Biology, the Variation of Climatic Factors and the Role of Pollinators Significantly Improve the Yield of Cucurbita maxima Cultivation in Cameroon. Med. Life Sci. 2026, 2(1), 23-36. doi: 10.11648/j.mls.20260201.13

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    Sanda H, Hyacinthe A, Menkamla AT, Haman ZO, Benoit M, et al. Knowledge of Floral Biology, the Variation of Climatic Factors and the Role of Pollinators Significantly Improve the Yield of Cucurbita maxima Cultivation in Cameroon. Med Life Sci. 2026;2(1):23-36. doi: 10.11648/j.mls.20260201.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.mls.20260201.13,
  author = {Hebri Sanda and Angoni Hyacinthe and Albert Tchopwe Menkamla and Zephirin Oumarou Haman and Maralossou Benoit and Tchobsala},
  title = {Knowledge of Floral Biology, the Variation of Climatic Factors and the Role of Pollinators Significantly Improve the Yield of Cucurbita maxima Cultivation in Cameroon},
  journal = {Medicine and Life Sciences},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {23-36},
  doi = {10.11648/j.mls.20260201.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.mls.20260201.13},
  abstract = {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.},
 year = {2026}
}

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  • TY  - JOUR
T1  - Knowledge of Floral Biology, the Variation of Climatic Factors and the Role of Pollinators Significantly Improve the Yield of Cucurbita maxima Cultivation in Cameroon
AU  - Hebri Sanda
AU  - Angoni Hyacinthe
AU  - Albert Tchopwe Menkamla
AU  - Zephirin Oumarou Haman
AU  - Maralossou Benoit
AU  - Tchobsala
Y1  - 2026/02/09
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.mls.20260201.13
T2  - Medicine and Life Sciences
JF  - Medicine and Life Sciences
JO  - Medicine and Life Sciences
SP  - 23
EP  - 36
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 3071-0618
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.13
AB  - 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.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

  • Hebri Sanda

    Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon

    Contact Email

    http://orcid.org/0009-0007-1511-961X

  • Angoni Hyacinthe

    Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Albert Tchopwe Menkamla

    Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Zephirin Oumarou Haman

    Department of Plant Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon

    http://orcid.org/0009-0001-5612-5684

  • Maralossou Benoit

    Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon

    http://orcid.org/0009-0008-7784-059X

  • Tchobsala

    Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon

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    1. 1. Introduction
    2. 2. Material and Methods
    3. 3. Results
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