INFLUÊNCIA DE INSETOS POLINIZADORES NA PRODUTIVIDADE E QUALIDADE DE PEPINOS

Abstract

Pollination is considered fundamental element to productivity of most vegetables. As for most Cucurbitaceae, cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) productivity has increased when insect pollination occurs. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the actions by pollinators on productivity and quality of pickled cucumbers in three crop cycles. The experiment was carried out in the municipality of Concórdia, Santa Catarina State (SC), Brazil, in a completely randomized design with two treatments, free access to pollinators and restricted access to pollinators. Twenty-two plants per treatment were used and evaluated in three crop cycles in 2016 and 2017. In the experiment, pollinator insect species, number of male and female flowers, number of cucumbers per plant, amount of defective fruit, and fruit weight were monitored in each treatment. The cucumbers yield per plant was higher in pollinator treatment, and lack of flower fertilization by insects caused a critical increase in the amount of defective fruit and significant cases of abortion.