Diagnosis of directed pollination services in apple orchards in Brazil

Abstract The pollination services performed by Apis mellifera are essential for the high-quality apple production. The aim of this study was to obtain information about the pollination services used in the municipalities of Vacaria-RS e São Joaquim-SC, the main apple-producing regions in Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with apple growers and technicians responsible for the orchards during 2013 and 2015. The obtained information was: a) cropping systems; b) use of pollination services; c) number of hives per hectare during flowering; d) renting value of hives; e) mortality of colonies; f) agrochemicals used on flowering; g) presence of native bees on flowering. In Vacaria and São Joaquim, respectively, 70% and 68.6% of the apple growers use the integrated apple production as their production model. The directed pollination is used by 100% and 90.0% of respondents respectively, from which, 80% and 47.1% opt for the hive rent. On average, three hives were used per hectare in both regions. The average cost is U$ 17.52 and U$ 17.74 per hive, respectively. During the flowering period, insecticides and fungicides are used by 100% and 97.2% of the apple growers. The highest mean percentage of mortality of colonies during flowering was reported in Vacaria, 11.8%. Native bees are often found in apple flowers. The development of management strategies for the conservation of domestic and wild pollinators is essential.

摘要 西方蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）所提供的传粉服务，对优质苹果生产至关重要。本研究旨在获取巴西主要苹果产区——南里奥格兰德州瓦卡里亚市（Vacaria-RS）与圣卡塔琳娜州圣若阿金市（São Joaquim-SC）所采用的传粉服务相关信息。研究于2013年至2015年间，对苹果种植户及果园技术负责人开展半结构化访谈。本次调研收集的信息涵盖以下维度：a）种植制度；b）传粉服务使用情况；c）开花期每公顷蜂箱投放量；d）蜂箱租赁价格；e）蜂群死亡率；f）开花期施用的农用化学品；g）开花期本地蜂的存在情况。在瓦卡里亚与圣若阿金两市，分别有70%与68.6%的苹果种植户采用苹果综合生产模式作为其生产体系。受访群体中，100%与90.0%的受访者分别采用定向传粉模式，其中80%与47.1%的种植户选择租赁蜂箱。两个区域的平均每公顷蜂箱使用量均为3箱。单箱平均租赁成本分别为17.52美元与17.74美元。开花期内，100%与97.2%的苹果种植户分别施用杀虫剂与杀菌剂。开花期蜂群平均死亡率最高的区域为瓦卡里亚，达11.8%。苹果花中常可观测到本地蜂的活动。制定针对家养与野生传粉昆虫的保护管理策略，实属必要之举。