Uso da Melipona scutellaris L., 1811 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) como polinizadora da cultura do pepino

Abstract

The pollination performed by the bees is directly related to the ecosystem, the maintenance and conservation of plants. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of the pollination process in the cultivar cucumber Marketmore 76. The evaluations were carried out at the Núcleo de Pesquisa em Apicultura e Meliponicultura (NUPAM), in the Setor de Apicultura e Sericicultura of the Centro de Ciências Agrárias of the Universidade Federal da Paraíba, in the city of Areia. The experimental period occurred from August 21st to November 12th of 2018. Three treatments were evaluated, two in closed greenhouses and one in an open greenhouse, with free access. The greenhouse 1, considered as the treatment with pollination controlled by Melipona scutellaris (T1), the greenhouse 2, considered the treatment without pollination (T2), and treatment 3, considered the free pollination (T3). For the T1 and T3 treatments, the frequency of visitation of the bees in the flowers was evaluated, and for all treatments the total fruit yield, fruit weight and diameter, seed weight and quantity and seed moisture content were evaluated. According to the foraging data, the greenhouse (T3), due to the absence of restrictions, was the one with the highest number of visits, with peak hours in the intervals of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Comparing the mean values, the pollinated fruit presented a statistical difference in weight and diameter, with even better results when compared to the non-pollinated fruits, and when the seeds were analyzed, the traits of total number (277), dry matter (21%), and dry seed weight (12.35 mg) presented statistical difference with higher values. It was concluded that the pollination directly interfered in the productive traits, both in the open environment and in the closed environment (greenhouse), where the pollinated fruits presented higher weight, diameter and number of seeds.