POLINIZAÇÃO DE MANGA (Mangifera indica L. - Anacardiaceae) VARIEDADE TOMMY ATKINS, NO VALE DO SÃO FRANCISCO, BAHIA

Abstract

Apesar da manga (Mangifera indica L.) ser uma fruteira amplamente cultivada nas regiões tropicais com alto valor econômico, ainda há muitas lacunas no conhecimento acerca de sua biologia e ecologia da polinização, que podem levar a um manejo inadequado e perda na produtividade. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo visa contribuir para a redução dessas lacunas ao investigar aspectos da morfologia e biologia floral, sistemas sexuais, mecanismos de polinização e potenciais polinizadores da variedade Tommy Atkins, na Bahia. As investigações foram realizadas no vale do São Francisco, no município de Juazeiro, maior pólo de fruticultura tropical do país. A manga é uma espécie andromonóica com flores heteromorfas, sendo as monoclinas maiores que as estaminadas. A longevidade floral de três dias permite que a planta disponibilize néctar a uma grande diversidade de visitantes. Na base das inflorescências, as flores estaminadas encontram-se em maior número, sugerindo a viabilidade da polinização por gravidade. A variedade se apresentou apomítica e sem barreiras para a autopolinização, contudo devido ao alto índice de aborto, sugere-se que a polinização cruzada, mediada por vetores de pólen, seja favorecida. Dentre os visitantes florais os potenciais polinizadores são moscas, devido, principalmente, à convergência funcional entre a morfologia das flores da manga e do aparelho bucal desses insetos. Palavras-chave: Mangifera indica; biologia floral; visitantes florais. ABSTRACT MANGO POLLINATION (Mangifera indica L.-ANACARDIACEAE) TOMMY ATKINS VARIETY, AT SÃO FRANCISCO VALLEY, BAHIA. Although mango (Mangifera indica L.) is widely distributed crop in tropical regions with great economic importance, there are still many gaps in knowledge about its pollination biology and ecology, which can lead to inadequate management and consequent loss in productivity. In that context, this study will contribute to reduce these gaps by investigating the morphology and floral biology, sexual systems, pollination mechanisms and potential pollinators of the variety Tommy Atkins, in Bahia. The investigation was developed at the São Francisco valley, Juazeiro, Bahia, the largest center for tropical fruit in the country. Mango is an andromonoic specie with heteromorphic flowers, the bisexual ones are larger than the staminate. The three days longevity provides nectar to a wide variety of visitors. At the base of the inflorescences, the staminate flowers are found in greater numbers, suggesting the viability of pollination by gravity. This variety is apomictic and has no barriers to self-pollination. However due to the high rate of abortion, it is suggested that cross-pollination, mediated by pollen vectors, is favored. Among the flower visitors the potential pollinators are flies, mainly due to the convergence between the functional morphology of the flowers of mango and the mouthparts of these insects.

Creating patches of native flowers facilitates crop pollination in large agricultural fields: mango as a case study

“…However, mangoes had a high rate of fruit drop/abortion (80-100% per inflorescence, L. G. Carvalheiro, pers. obser, see also Sousa, Pigozzo & Viana 2010), and final production of both Kent and Keitt showed significant declines with distance from natural habitat (Fig. 3).…”

“…), if enticed to forage within mango fields they can contribute to mango pollination. Exclusion experiments on each cultivar would also show whether a higher self‐pollination ability of Tommy Atkins (see Sousa, Pigozzo & Viana ) explains the lack of effect of declining flower visitors with isolation from natural habitat on final production of this cultivar.…”

“…Ants, however, are not very mobile and are more likely to contribute to self-than cross-pollination, potentially leading to fruit abortion (e.g. Papadakis, Protopapadak & Therio 2009;Sousa, Pigozzo & Viana 2010).…”

Fenología reproductiva, biología floral y visitantes florales en los cultivares de mango (Mangifera indica L.) Hilacha y Tommy Atkins en el valle del alto Magdalena (Colombia).

“…Estudios relativos a la biología floral del mango se desarrollaron a partir del inicio del siglo XX, y están relacionados con varios aspectos como la caracterización de la flor (Juliano y Cuevas, 1932;Mukherjee, 1953), apertura floral (Spencer y Kinnard, 1956) y polinización (Popenoe, 1917;Young, 1942;Sturrock, 1944). En los últimos años, se han seguido realizando estudios relacionados, algunos en el trópico (Bally, 2006;Siqueira et al, 2008;Sousa et al, 2010), y otros principalmente bajo condiciones subtropicales (Bahtia et al, 1995;Dag y Gazit, 2000). Es posible que la información en áreas subtropicales poco aporte a la realidad de nuestros cultivos.…”

Soybean, mango and ginger beverage: nutritional information, sensory evaluation and consumption intent

“…It stands out for its pleasant flavor and aroma allied to a high nutritional value. 16 It's a source of carotenoids, which are vitamin A precursors, and also contains vitamin C and small amounts of B vitamins components. 17 Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) originated in Southeast Asia, and is used in traditional Chinese and Indian cuisines and widely appreciated in the modern world.…”