Características florais e polinizadores na qualidade de frutos de cultivares de maracujazeiro‑azedo

The objective of this work was to determine the floral traits of eight cultivars of sour passion fruit and identify their pollinators, as well as to evaluate the influence of natural pollination on fruit quality, in the region of Tangará da Serra, MT, Brazil. A completely randomized experimental design was carried out, with ten replicates and one flower per plot to evaluate morphometry, and with four replicates and five flowers per cultivar to determine the fruiting rate. The following parameters were evaluated: flower morphology and morphometry, flower longevity, frequency of floral visitors, natural fruiting rate, and fruit quality. Flower morphology and morphometry were compatible with pollination by large-size bees; they were also compatible with pollination by medium‑size bees for the cultivars IAC‑275‑Maravilha, IAC‑277‑Jóia, BRS SC1, BRS RC, and BRS GA1. The greatest flower longevity was observed for the IAC‑277‑Jóia, BRS GA1, BRS RC, and BRS OV1 cultivars. The frequency of bees as Xylocopa (2.0%) and Bombus (3.9%) was low, and 'BRS GA1' received the highest number of these bee visits. Natural fruiting rate was low (36.67%). Naturally pollinated fruit show physical traits compatible with those required by the market standards.O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar as características florais de oito cultivares de maracujazeiro‑azedo e identificar seus polinizadores, bem como avaliar a influência da polinização natural na qualidade dos frutos, na região de Tangará da Serra, MT. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com dez repetições e uma flor por parcela para avaliar a morfometria, e com quatro repetições e cinco flores por cultivar para determinar o índice de frutificação. Avaliaram-se os seguintes parâmetros: morfologia e morfometria floral, longevidade floral, frequência de visitantes florais, índice de frutificação natural e qualidade de fruto. A morfologia e a morfometria das flores foram compatíveis com a polinização por abelhas de grande porte; também foram compatíveis com a polinização por abelhas de médio porte nas cultivares IAC‑275‑Maravilha, IAC‑277‑Jóia, BRS SC1, BRS RC e BRS GA1. A maior longevidade floral foi observada nas cultivares IAC‑277‑Jóia, BRS GA1, BRS RC e BRS OV1. A frequência de abelhas como Xylocopa (2,0%) e Bombus (3,9%) foi baixa, e 'BRS GA1' recebeu o maior número de visitas destas abelhas. O índice de frutificação natural foi baixo (36,67%). Os frutos de polinização natural apresentam características físicas compatíveis com as exigidas pelo mercado consumidor

Morphometry, floral resources and efficiency of natural and artificial pollination in fruit quality in cultivars of sour passion fruit

<div><p>Abstract This study aimed to provide information on the biology and floral resources, stigmatic receptivity and viability of pollen grains during rainy season and dry season, and to evaluate the efficiency of natural and artificial pollination on quality of fruits of eight passion fruit cultivars sourced in Tangará da Serra - MT. Five commercial cultivars and three populations of the genetic improvement program of the sour passion fruit from the Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso were evaluated. The climatic conditions of the rainy season favored the greater development of the floral pieces. The sugar concentration in the nectar presented higher averages in the rainy season, in all cultivars, except for FB 200. The climatic conditions of the dry season favored the replacement of the nectar volume. All cultivars evaluated presented pollen viability and stigmatic receptivity higher than 79% and 90%, respectively. The characteristics of fruit mass and percentage of pulp were better in artificial pollination, and the fruits obtained from natural and artificial pollination in all cultivars evaluated presented physical and chemical characteristics that are within the quality standards desired in the commercialization.</p></div