EFEITOS DA POLINIZAÇÃO POR ABELHAS Apis mellifera NA CULTURA DA SOJA NO BRASIL: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine Max L. Merrill) is one of Brazil's main commodities, with about 43.5 million hectares dedicated to its cultivation, often associated with the suppression of natural vegetation and the reduction of pollinators such as Apis mellifera. Although soybean does not depend on pollinators to complete its reproductive cycle, it is a significant source of nectar and pollen for bees, and its contribution to soybean productivity is a controversial topic. This study conducts a systematic review of the literature on the effects of Apis mellifera pollination on soybean productivity in Brazil, focusing on publications from the last twenty years. The search was conducted in electronic databases using descriptors in Portuguese and English, combined with the boolean operator AND. Scientific articles, theses, dissertations, and case studies were selected and organized according to relevant sub-themes. The results indicate that pollination by Apis mellifera significantly improves the productivity and quality of soybean grains, with increases in grain weight, the number of grains per pod, and filled pods. Additionally, a 100% increase in honey production was observed in apiaries near soybean fields during the flowering period. Pollination contributes to the genetic diversity of plants and increases the resilience of agricultural systems. However, the decline in bee populations, due to the use of pesticides and loss of habitats, requires sustainable agricultural practices and the integration of bees into cultivation systems. Keywords: Glycine Max, entomophilous pollination, pollination service, sustainability.