Is manual pollination of yellow passion fruit completely dispensable?

High dependence on pollination is considered the main cause of low productivity in American yellow passion fruit crops (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa). As intensive farming practices require similarly intensive manual pollination, this study sought answer the following questions: (a) is there a difference in the efficiency of fruit production when one or more stigmas are pollinated manually, by natural pollinators (or both)? and (b) does manual or natural pollination (or both) affect the physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits? Flowers were pollinated manually, naturally by native bees or by using both methods. Fruit production was evaluated seven days after anthesis, as well as some selected physico-chemical characteristics of harvested fruits. It was demonstrated that the pollination of yellow passion fruit is satisfactory only with visitation by native bees, especially carpenter bees. There is no difference in fruit production efficiency when one or more stigmas are pollinated manually and then left free for visits by natural pollinators. Manual pollination in one stigma produced less seeds and lower biomass of fruit juice of yellow passion fruits. When there is the presence of natural pollinators (notably carpenter bees), manual services can be reduced but not completely dismissed. Therefore, yellow passion fruit farmers can potentially reduce production costs

Sequential sampling plan for fruit fly species of the Genus Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) in guava orchards

Abstract This study aimed to elaborate a sequential sampling plan for Anastrepha species in commercial orchards of guava Psidium guajava Novo Milênio cultivar. Samplings were carried out in three orchards in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Fruit flies were sampled for 23 weeks. Data were subjected to the sequential probability ratio test. We adopted the mean of 0.3 Anastrepha individuals for the safety level and 0.7 for the control level and the observed frequency was adjusted to the negative binomial expected frequency (Bn) for the equation of the line. The condition of adopting a control method recommended by S1 = 6.5554 + 0.5362n was observed in the upper line. In turn, the lower line, which does not require the use of a control method, is defined by So = -2.8229 + 0.5362n. The sequential sampling plan predicted the expected maximum number of 37 sampling units to decide whether or not to use control method(s). This sequential plan was defined with mean number of 0.54 adults for each McPhail trap unit (sample). The sequential plan generated is unprecedented and will contribute to the rapid and safe decision making in the control of Anastrepha species of economic importance in guava farming