Eficiência de polinização da abelha sem ferrão Melipona subnitida na cultura do pimentão em casa de vegetação

The present study was carried out in Northeastern Region of Brazil, in order to investigate the use of stingless bee Melipona subnitida Ducke in the pollination of greenhouse sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Treatments of hand cross-pollination, hand self-pollination, pollination by bees and restricted pollination were performed. Results showed that despite sweet pepper flowers are considered autogamous, this crop benefits from pollination by M. subnitida, producing fruits significantly heavier and wider, containing a greater number of seeds and of better quality (lower percentage of malformed fruits) than self-pollinated sweet pepper. Thus, M. subnitida can be considered an efficient pollinator of greenhouse sweet pepper.O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar o uso da abelha sem ferrão Melipona subnitida Ducke, na polinização de flores de pimentão (Capsicum annuum L.), sob cultivo protegido, na Região Nordeste do Brasil. Foram comparados tratamentos de polinização cruzada manual, polinização por abelhas, autopolinização manual e polinização restrita. Os resultados mostraram que apesar de as flores de pimentão serem consideradas autógamas, essa cultura beneficia-se da polinização realizada por M. subnitida, produzindo frutos significativamente mais pesados e mais largos, com um número maior de sementes e de melhor qualidade (baixo porcentual de frutos deformados), quando comparada com a cultura autopolinizada. Portanto, M. subnitida pode ser considerada uma polinizadora eficiente de pimentão em casa de vegetação

<b>Adaptação e comportamento de pastejo da abelha jandaíra (<em>Melipona subnitida</em> Ducke) em ambiente protegido</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v26i3.1777 <b>Adaptation and foraging behavior of the stingless bee (<em>Melipona subnitida</em>) Ducke in a caged environment</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v26i3.1777

A influência do ambiente protegido no comportamento de pastejo da abelha sem ferrão jandaíra (<em>Melipona subnitida</em> Ducke) foi estudada no Estado do Ceará, região Nordeste do Brasil. Foram investigados aspectos como comportamento, adaptação das abelhas à casa de vegetação e o padrão diário de forrageamento destas na cultura do pimentão (<em>Capsicum annuum</em> L.), cultivada em ambiente protegido. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente por meio de análise de variância, com médias comparadas <em>a posteriori</em>, pelo teste de Tukey. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que <em>M. subnitida</em> Ducke adapta-se bem ao uso em casa de vegetação e realiza vôos de forrageamento durante todo o dia, podendo ser utilizada para polinização de culturas agrícolas, sob cultivo protegido.<br>The effect of caged environment on the foraging behavior of the stingless bee <em>Melipona subnitida</em> Ducke was studied in the state of Ceará, NE Brazil. Species adaptation to enclosures, foraging behavioral aspects and daily foraging pattern were investigated in a greenhouse sweet pepper (<em>Capsicum annuum</em> L.) crop. Data were analyzed by Anova and means were compared <em>a posteriori</em> using Tukey test. The results showed that <em>M. subnitida</em> Ducke adapts well to greenhouses and forages throughout the day. It may be concluded that this bee species can be used for crop pollination in protected environments

Pollination efficiency of the stingless bee Melipona subnitida on greenhouse sweet pepper

The present study was carried out in Northeastern Region of Brazil, in order to investigate the use of stingless bee Melipona subnitida Ducke in the pollination of greenhouse sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Treatments of hand cross-pollination, hand self-pollination, pollination by bees and restricted pollination were performed. Results showed that despite sweet pepper flowers are considered autogamous, this crop benefits from pollination by M. subnitida, producing fruits significantly heavier and wider, containing a greater number of seeds and of better quality (lower percentage of malformed fruits) than self-pollinated sweet pepper. Thus, M. subnitida can be considered an efficient pollinator of greenhouse sweet pepper

Propolis extract and sodium monensin on ruminal fermentation and hematological parameters in sheep

This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of 30% propolis ethanol extract (PEE) and sodium monensin on the intake of dry matter, nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation and hematological parameters in sheep. Six adult castrated male sheep fistulated in the rumen were assigned to a 6 x 6 Latin square design. The addition of PEE or sodium monensin to the diet did not change the digestibility coefficients of dry matter (79.4%), crude protein (77.0%), neutral detergent fiber (76.1%), acid detergent fiber (69.7%), hemicellulose (80.9%), and organic matter (79.4%). Sheep fed diets with inclusion of sodium monensin showed 11.3% reduction in dry matter intake (1.76 kg day-1) compared to those which received PEE (2.00 kg day-1). The inclusion of additives to the diet influenced ruminal pH: higher values were observed in sheep fed sodium monensin (6.1). Mean levels of ammonia nitrogen (7.3 mg dL-1) were similar between treatments. Biochemical serum parameters of glucose (59.4 mg dL-1), urea (8.9 mg dL-1) total protein (6.8 g dL-1) and albumin (2.5 g dL-1) were within the reference range for the ovine species. Sodium monensin was more efficient to maintain ruminal pH at higher levels and to reduce the dry matter intake. However, the addition of PEE did not affect the nutrient digestibility in sheep fed 50:50 forage: concentrate ratio