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 传粉者对农业作物具有关键作用，其种群匮乏将对全球粮食生产造成负面影响。因此，大量研究均强调了掌握这类传粉媒介生物学特性的重要性。番茄（Solanum lycopersicum）是极具经济价值的核心作物之一。本研究的目标包括：在巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州东南部的常规种植区内，鉴定番茄的传粉访花昆虫并确定其中最具代表性的类群；评估传粉者活动对番茄果实品质的影响；探讨针对此类传粉媒介的保护实践方案。本研究共记录到15种访花昆虫，其中细腰隧蜂（Exomalopsis analis）为最具代表性的传粉者。西方蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）与棕角无刺蜂（Trigona spinipes）虽不属于振蜂类群，却同样可作为番茄的有效传粉者。