Some soybean cultivars exhibit enhanced reproductive success in response to pollinator visitation, indicating differential dependence on pollination services among varieties.

In this video, we present the findings of an innovative study conducted by the team at the Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), who investigated how different soybean varieties respond to the presence of pollinators in the dry Chaco region of Tucumán and Santiago del Estero. Through a field experiment that included the use of exclusion cages, the researchers were able to measure the direct impact of pollinators—particularly bees—on plant yield. They found that the benefit provided by pollinators varies among cultivars, being especially pronounced in those with purple flowers, and that the effect differs according to maturity groups. This finding is key to promoting more sustainable agriculture, where choosing the right soybean variety and supporting pollinator populations can help enhance crop yields and conserve biodiversity.