Pollination of okra flowers, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench

This research was carried out in Ituverava SP Brazil, to evaluate frequency, nectar or pollen hoarding by insects, opening and closing time of flowers in okra crop, Abelmoschus esculentus (Malvaceae) var. Chifre-de-veado, and the effect of their visits in fruit production. Flowers were visited by in...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Malerbo-Souza, Darclet Teresinha, Toledo, Vagner de Alencar Arnaut de, Stuchi, Andreza Cristine, Toledo, Jussara de Oliveira Arnaut de
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2008
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM)
Repositorio:Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy (Online)
Idioma:portugués
OAI Identifier:oai:periodicos.uem.br/ojs:article/2593
Acceso en línea:http://www.periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciAgron/article/view/2593
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:frutificação
Abelmoschus esculentus
insetos
abelhas
5.00.00.00-4 Ciências Agrárias
Descripción
Sumario:This research was carried out in Ituverava SP Brazil, to evaluate frequency, nectar or pollen hoarding by insects, opening and closing time of flowers in okra crop, Abelmoschus esculentus (Malvaceae) var. Chifre-de-veado, and the effect of their visits in fruit production. Flowers were visited by insects between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The flowers were marked and fruit set was evaluated: 10 flowers were protected with a bag and compared to same quantity of unprotected flowers. Okra flowers began opening by 9:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. and closing by 2:45 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. of the same day, when they started to shrivel. The insects observed in nectar hoarding were Hymenoptera (Melipona sp.) and Lepidoptera. In pollen hoarding, insects most frequently were Thysanoptera, Formicidae, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera (Melipona sp. and Apis mellifera). The crop showed 100% auto fertilization and did not require pollinators to produce fruits. However, in flowers visited by insects fruits were heavier, longer and wider