Stingless bees, Melipona fasciculata, as efficient pollinators of eggplant (Solanum melongena) in greenhouses

Autor(es)

Nunes-Silva, Patricia ^[1] ; Hrncir, Michael ^[2] ; da Silva, Claudia Ines ^[1] ; Roldao, Yara Sbrolin ^[1] ; Imperatriz-Fonseca, Vera Lucia ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Rural Semi Arido, Dept Ciencias Anim, Mossoro, RN - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Apidologie; v. 44, n. 5, p. 537-546, SEP 2013.
• Citações Web of Science: 14

Resumo

Detailed studies of the behavior of pollinators allow insights into pollination mechanisms and may indicate which pollinators are more efficient for a particular plant species. Our aim was to evaluate if Melipona fasciculata is an efficient pollinator of eggplant (Solanum melongena L., Solanaceae) in greenhouses. We analyzed (1) the colony foraging pattern of M. fasciculata in greenhouses, (2) the behavior of bees during the visits to flowers, and (3) fruit set and fruit quality after different pollination treatments (hand pollination: autogamy, geitonogamy, xenogamy; bee pollination). Our results show that M. fasciculata is an efficient pollinator of eggplants and, consequently, may be a viable alternative to bumblebees in Brazil. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 04/15801-0 - Biodiversidade e uso sustentável de polinizadores, com ênfase em abelhas Meliponini
• Beneficiário: Vera Lucia Imperatriz-Fonseca
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 07/03864-5 - Os mecanismos da polinização de Solanaceae por abelhas sem ferrão
• Beneficiário: Patrícia Nunes Silva
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado