Importance of bees in pollination of Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae) in open-field of the Southeast of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

ABSTRACT Pollinators are extremely important in agricultural crops because their deficit can affect food production in the world. Consequently, a lot of studies have been emphasizing the importance of the knowledge about the biology of these agents. The tomato stands out among the economically most important crops. Therefore, the objectives of this work were: to identify the pollinators of Solanum lycopersicum in a conventional area of cultivation in the southeast of Minas Gerais State and detect which of these are more representative; to assess the importance of the pollinators' action for the quality of the fruits produced; and discuss practices for conservation to these agents. Fifteen floral visitors were found, with Exomalopsis analis being the most representative. Apis mellifera and Trigona spinipes, although not vibrating bees, also acted as pollinators of Solanum lycopersicum.

摘要 传粉者对农作物生产至关重要，其种群匮乏将对全球粮食产量造成负面影响。为此，诸多研究均强调了阐明这类传粉生物学生态学知识的必要性。番茄在经济价值最高的作物中占据突出地位。因此，本研究的目标如下：其一，在巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州东南部的常规种植区内，鉴定番茄（Solanum lycopersicum）的传粉者类群，并甄别其中具有代表性的类群；其二，评估传粉者活动对所产果实品质的影响；其三，探讨针对这类传粉生物的保护实践方案。本研究共记录到15种花访者，其中暗足隧蜂（Exomalopsis analis）为最具代表性的类群。西方蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）与棘爪无刺蜂（Trigona spinipes）虽不具备振蜂传粉行为，同样可作为番茄的传粉者。