Diversidade e abundância de visitantes florais e sua influência na qualidade de frutos em pomares de goiabeira (psidium guajava L., MYRTACEAE) no alto sertão sergipano

Abstract

Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) is widely known for its economic importance. It has as a characteristic the self-compatibility, being able to fructify by self-pollination, but several studies have demonstrated a greater cross-pollination, and the pollinator agents are necessary. Thus, the objectives of this study were to identify floral visitors in guava orchards, as well as to evaluate the influence of natural pollination on yield and fruit quality in irrigated perimeters located in the North of Sergipe. This work was developed in properties located in the municipalities of Canindé de São Francisco and Poço Redondo in Sergipe. The composition of species and number of floral visitors were recorded and collected during the flowering period from May to December 2017. A total of 740 bees were collected, mainly during the morning. Considering the total number of individuals collected in guava orchards, Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) and Apis mellifera add up to 675 individuals (91.2%) of the collected bees, standing out among eusocial bees, while solitary bees had low density and frequency in bloom. Cross-pollination resulted in higher yield (n = 73%, n = 108) and lower abortion rate (27%) compared to self-pollination (65% yield and 35% abortion rate, n = 108). In addition, the quality was better in fruits from cross-pollination (diameter: 63 ± 6 mm, length: 82 ± 12 mm), bark thickness (1.75 ± 0.65 mm), seed number (327 ± 30 ) and pulp yield (57.6%) soluble solids: 9.3 ± 1.3 Brix, and total carotenoids: 245 ± 25 μg.g-1 b. s. The results reinforce the importance of pollinators for productivity and suggest the need for pollination management in guava orchards in the irrigated areas of the North of Sergipe.