Fruit quality of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) from flowers pollinated by stingless bees (Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lepeletier 1836 and Melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811) under protected cultivation

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effect of stingless bees in the pollination and fruiting of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under protected cultivation. The bees were tested Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides Lepeletier 1836 and Melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811, both running the vibration of the anthers of flowers poricidal for efficient collection of pollen, such as sweet pepper. Three treatments were tested for fruit quality. In the treatment greenhouse 1: there were two colonies of M. quadrifasciata the treatment greenhouse 2: two colonies of M. scutellaris and the treatment greenhouse 3 fruiting was the result of self-pollination. The parameters measured were: total production, fruit biomass, length, circumference larger and smaller seeds and biomass. Fruits pollination which was mediated by M. quadrifasciata were heavier, larger and with more seeds than those in which pollen transfer was performed by M. scutellaris, or produced via self-pollination.