Tomato production under greenhouse conditions: Bumblebees or hormones?

Abstract

An auxin hormone regulator (Tomatosa) usually stimulates tomato production under greenhouse conditions. However, its use usually produces fruit abnormalities and adverse environmental effects. An alternative practice is promoting insect pollination, and Bombus species are efficient and reliable pollinators for tomato flowers. The present work assesses tomato fruit set and fruit quality under pollination service provided of the native bumblebee (Bombus pauloensis) compared to fruit production with Tomatosa and analized the pollination efficiency of the bumblebee in different frequency of visits. The positive effect of B. pauloensis on fruit set rate and fruit quality of tomatoes grown under greenhouse conditions is highlighted. The hormone regulator did not even show positive effects on fruit production. According to our results, an intermediate intensity of pollination by B. pauloensis is desirable to achieve the highest transfer of pollen on the stigma.