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  • KOREAN
  • P-ISSN2287-8327
  • E-ISSN2288-1220
  • SCOPUS, KCI

Assessment of stingless bee densification to improve pollination service: a case study in strawberry cultivation in field conditions

Journal of Ecology and Environment / Journal of Ecology and Environment, (P)2287-8327; (E)2288-1220
2024, v.48 no.2, pp.173-181
https://doi.org/10.5141/jee.24.014
Priscila Silva Miranda (Department of Postgraduate Studies in Agronomy – Phytotechnics Concentration Area, UESB - Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Bahia 45033-300, Brazil)
Zilda Cristina Malheiros Lima (Department of Postgraduate Studies in Agronomy – Phytotechnics Concentration Area, UESB - Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Bahia 45033-300, Brazil)
Raquel Pérez-Maluf (Department of Postgraduate Studies in Agronomy – Phytotechnics Concentration Area, UESB - Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Bahia 45033-300, Brazil)
Paulo Henrique Marques Monro (Department of Postgraduate Studies in Agronomy – Phytotechnics Concentration Area, UESB - Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Bahia 45033-300, Brazil)
Aldenise Alves Moreira (Department of Postgraduate Studies in Agronomy – Phytotechnics Concentration Area, UESB - Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Bahia 45033-300, Brazil)

Abstract

Background: Pollination is an ecosystem service of utmost importance for agriculture. In this context, the study aimed to evaluate the pollination service of naturally occurring bees and after densification with colonies of stingless bees (Nannotrigona testceicornis and Tetragonisca angustula) in commercial strawberry plantation. The study was carried out in the four seasons of the year and under two experimental conditions: natural polli- nation (NP) and pollination under bee densification. The supply of flowers and bee den- sity were estimated. For bee densification, four boxes of colonies of Iraí bees and four of Jataí bees were placed near the strawberry plantation. Five treatments were established for each condition, considering NP and pollination with bee densification on different days from flower anthesis, ranging from the 1st to the 5th day. Fruits were harvested, quantified, and submitted to evaluations to determine biometry, degree of deformity, and percentage of fertilized achenes. Results: There was a higher density in summer compared to other seasons in both con- ditions evaluated. The weight was greater (20.19 g) when fruits were pollinated on the first day after floral anthesis under pollination conditions with bee densification. It was ob- served that free pollination provided fruits with greater a greater of deformation of flowers on the fourth and fifth day after anthesis. However, when bee density became higher, the greatest degree of deformity was observed only in fifth-day fruits. The densification with stingless bees provided a 50% increase in the number of bees present on strawberry plants in summer and also a 15% increase in fruit weight and the occurrence of a lower degree of fruit deformity. Conclusions: Density with stingless bees provided a 50% increase in the number of bees present on strawberry plant in the summer, with an improvement in fruit quality and ag- gregate commercial value, providing a 15% increase in fruit weight and a lower degree of deformity under the conditions of densification of Iraí (N. testceicornis) and Jataí (T. an- gustula) bees. Under the evaluated conditions, the introduction of stingless bee boxes in the summer is recommended.

keywords
cv. San Andreas, Fragaria × ananassa, Nannotrigona testaceicornis, pollina- tion, Tetragonisca angustula

Journal of Ecology and Environment