Pollination services provided by Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in greenhouses with Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae)

Abstract

Stingless bees are considered particularly promising for use as commercial pollinators. However, studies testing the effectiveness of these bees in pollinating grape tomatoes in greenhouses are not yet available. This work aimed to analyze the floral biology of the grape tomato and evaluate whether the additional pollination performed by Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier generates an effective increase in production and improves the quality of this variety of tomato when grown in greenhouses. The research took place in two greenhouses located in Araguari, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. In one of them, we only used a mechanical method of pollination and, in the other, pollination by the mechanical method was associated with pollination performed by bees. The productivity was compared by recording the number of flowers and fruits formed on different branches, and tomato quality was assessed by analyzing their size, weight, number of seeds and total sugar content. Tomatoes originating from flowers visited by M. quadrifasciata workers produced about 47% more seeds and their concentration of sugar was approximately 14% higher. These results suggest that using M. quadrifasciata for tomato pollination shows to be promising, since their use as pollinators entails positive effects on fruit quality.