Influence of pollinators on seed production and quality of carrot and sweet pepper in a greenhouse

Pollination is a fundamental process for the perpetuation of various plant species, and the development of fruits and seeds is directly related to the pollination of flowers. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the influence of pollinators on seed production and quality of carrot and sweet pepper under greenhouse conditions. In the carrot study, plants were grown in cages, and the following treatments were used: pollination with Arapuá (Trigona spinipes) bees, Jataí (Tetragonisca angustula) bees, Tibuna (Nannotrigona (Scaptotrigona) bipunctata) bees, flies (Musca domestica), hand pollination, and free pollination (outside the greenhouse). In the sweet pepper study, the following treatments were used: pollination with Arapuá (Trigona spinipes) bees, Jataí (Tetragonisca angustula) bees, Marmelada (Frieseomellita varia) bees, hand pollination and free (self fertilization). The use of Jataí and Tibuna bees showed a great potential for carrot seed production in greenhouse conditions. For the production of sweet pepper seeds the use of pollinators is not necessary, but the presence of these agents increases the fruit weight. The physiological seed quality of both species was not influenced by different types of pollination.

Capsicum annuum; Daucus carota; pollination; seed physiological quality