Thesis (D.Phil(Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-149). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Commercial production of the southern highbush blueberries (SHB) ‘Jewel’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Star’, ‘Snowchaser’ and ‘Bluecrisp’ started recently in the Western Cape. In South Africa, no research has been conducted on pruning and pollination of SHB, and various questions regarding these practices have arisen. Six experiments were conducted to evaluate the self-compatibility and the effect of cross-pollination on berry characteristics of ‘Star’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Jewel’, ‘Bluecrisp’ and ‘Snowchaser’. The effect of cross-pollination on fruit set, berry weight, berry diameter and fruit development period is cultivar dependant. ‘Bluecrisp’ appears self-incompatible and ‘Misty’ or ‘Emerald’ can be recommended as cross-pollinators. ‘Snowchaser’ seems self-compatible and solid block plantings can be recommended. ‘Misty’ and ‘Emerald’ would be recommended as cross-pollinators for ‘Star’ and ‘Jewel’ respectively, even though these cultivars will set an adequate crop when self-pollinated. Although ‘Emerald’ seem self-compatible, the fruit set tends to vary greatly and cross-pollination with ‘Jewel’, ‘Misty’ and ‘Bluecrisp’ is recommended to obtain early maturing berries of the required size. Another season’s data is required before final conclusions can be drawn. In order to establish sustainable summer pruning strategies for South African growing conditions that will maximise yield and berry quality for SHB, two pruning trials were conducted. In the first trial, the severity of pruning of ‘Star’, ‘Emerald’ and ‘Jewel’ was evaluated. We established that summer pruning is a compromise between total yield and desired berry size. All the pruning treatments reduced total vegetative growth and shoot number, but increased individual shoot length. Summer pruning increased berry weight and diameter by reducing total yield, but also by developing better quality bearing wood. Vigorous laterals stimulated by pruning seize growth later thereby delaying reproductive bud initiation and harvest. An increase in the severity of pruning increased the level to which the plants responded. No pruning and ‘light pruning’ gave the highest yields, but one more season’s data will clarify whether successive light pruning is sustainable. “Standard pruning” resulted in a well-balanced plant with an intermediate yield and berry size. Heading of one-year-shoots as part of the pruning strategy is not recommended for any of the cultivars. “Severe pruning” will only be recommended for young, newly established plantings where vegetative growth is the main objective. A second trial was conducted to study the effect of time of summer pruning. At Teeland, delaying pruning resulted in a decrease in total new growth and shoot number thereby reducing yield. This was probably due to progressively more buds that became endodormant. For all three cultivars, pruning as soon as possible after harvest would therefore be recommended. At Lushof, the effect of time of summer pruning was not significant. This could be due to the fact that plants were younger and more vigorous or because the area is warmer and growth continued for longer. One more season’s data is needed before any final conclusions are drawn. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kommersiële verbouing van die “southern highbush” bloubessies (SHB) ‘Jewel’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Star’, ‘Snowchaser’ en ‘Bluecrisp’ is ’n nuwe ontwikkeling in die Wes-Kaap. In Suid-Afrika is nog geen navorsing oor die snoei en bestuiwing van SHB onderneem nie, en verskeie vrae het oor hierdie praktyke ontstaan. Ses eksperimente is gedoen om die self-verenigbaarheid, sowel as die effek van kruisbestuiwing op bessie-eienskappe van ‘Star’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Jewel’, ‘Bluecrisp’ en ‘Snowchaser’ te evalueer. Die effek van kruisbestuiwing op vrugset, bessiegewig, bessiedeursnee en vrugontwikkelingsperiode is kultivar spesifiek. ‘Bluecrisp’ blyk self-onverenigbaar te wees en kruisbestuiwing met ‘Misty’ of ‘Emerald’ word aanbeveel. ‘Snowchaser’ blyk self-verenigbaar te wees en suiwer blok aanplantings kan dus aanbeveel word. ‘Misty’ en ‘Emerald’ word onderskeidelik as kruisbestuiwers vir ‘Star’ en ‘Jewel’ aanbeveel, alhoewel beide kultivars ‘n goeie oes sonder kruisbestuiwing kan lewer. Vir ‘Emerald sal kruisbestuiwing met ‘Jewel’, ‘Misty’ of ‘Bluecrisp’ aanbeveel word, indien vroeë, groot bessies belangrik is. ’n Tweede seisoen se data word benodig om bogenoemde te bevestig voor finale aanbevelings gemaak kan word. Twee snoeiproewe is uitgevoer om volhoubare somersnoei-strategieë te ontwikkel wat die opbrengs en kwaliteit van bessies onder Suid-Afrikaanse groeitoestande sal maksimeer. In die eerste snoeiproef is die intensiteit van snoeisnitte vir ‘Star’, ‘Emerald’ en ‘Jewel’ ondersoek. Daar is vasgestel dat totale opbrengs en bessiegrootte teen mekaar opgeweeg moet word wanneer strafheid van snoei ge-evalueer word. Somersnoei verminder totale vegetatiewe groei en aantal nuwe lote, maar vermeerder lootlengte en bessiegrootte. Somersnoei het ‘n toename in bessiegrootte tot gevolg deur dat die totale opbrengs verminder, maar ook deur die kwaliteit van draende lote te verbeter. Meer groeikragtige lote gestimuleer deur somersnoei, staak verlengingsgroei later in die seisoen wat dan lei tot later bloknopinisiasie en oes. Geen snoei, sowel as “ligte snoei” het gelei tot die grootste opbrengs na die afloop van een seisoen, maar nog ‘n seisoen se data word benodig om vas te stel of dit volhoubaar is. “Standaard snoei’” lei tot ‘n goed gebalanseerde plant met ‘n gemiddelde opbrengs en bessiegrootte. “Harde snoei” sal slegs aanbeveel word vir nuwe aanplantings waar vegetatiewe groei die hoof prioriteit is. Om die tydsbereking van somersnoei aan te spreek, is ‘n tweede snoeiproef uitgevoer. Op Teeland, het ‘n uitstel van somersnoei gelei tot ‘n afname in vegetatiewe groei en aantal lote en dit het dan gelei tot ‘n afname in opbrengs. Hierdie was moontlik die gevolg van meer knoppe wat mettertyd in endodormansie ingegaan het. Op Lushof het die tydsberekening van somersnoei geen betekenisvolle effek gehad nie. Dit kan moontlik toegeskryf word aan die jonger, groeikragtige plante, of aan die langer groeiseisoen weens die warmer klimaat in die area. Nog ‘n seisoen se data word egter benodig voor enige finale gevolgtrekkings gemaak kan word.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 1963. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming

ALVES, Társio Thiago Lopes. Biologia floral e produtividade de grãos de três híbridos de girassol (helianthus annuus l.) Em função do comportamento de pastejo e eficiência polinizadora da abelha apis mellifera. 2006. xvi, 79 f. : Dissertação (Mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Departamento de Zootecnia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia. Fortaleza-CE, 2006. / Submitted by Eric Santiago (erichhcl@gmail.com) on 2016-08-09T15:28:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2006_dis_ttlalves.pdf: 3514038 bytes, checksum: b20fadfcff92607cbdfe4f00f3e99906 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-08-09T15:42:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2006_dis_ttlalves.pdf: 3514038 bytes, checksum: b20fadfcff92607cbdfe4f00f3e99906 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-09T15:42:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2006_dis_ttlalves.pdf: 3514038 bytes, checksum: b20fadfcff92607cbdfe4f00f3e99906 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / The research was carried out in the counties of Russas (Campo Federal) and Fortaleza (Universidade Federal do Ceará), both in the state of Ceara, Brazil, from August 2005 to January 2006. Floral biology and seed productivity of three sunflower (Helianthus annuus) hibrids, H250, H251 e H360, and foraging behavior and pollination efficiency of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) were investigated. One hectare of each hybrid was planted in Russas, with an interval of 40 days to avoid coincidence of flowering between one or more hibrid, aiming to collect data on seed productivity, foraging behavior and pollination efficiency of the honey bee. Data on the hibrid’s floral biology were obtained in Fortaleza, from two 5 x 10 m areas planted with the three hybrids. The analyses of data were carried out by ANOVA, means were compared a posteriori by Tukey test (5%) and, in the cases where interactions were found, by regression analyses. Results showed that the three hibrids tested have similar floral biology for the parameters studied, differing only in corolla depth, though not affecting their attractiveness to Apis mellifera foragers; that honey bees forage throughout the day in flowers of the three hybrids, concentrating nectar harvesting in the morning shift and pollen collection in the afternoon; that seed productivity obtained was higher than the Brazilian average seed productivity and equivalent to the World’s one. It was concluded that Apis mellifera was efficient in pollinating the three hibrids studied in this research, but there is a need of deeper investigations on the pollination of these hibrids to explain the high seed productivity observed from inflorescences protected against flower visitors. / A pesquisa foi conduzida nos municípios de Russas (Campo Federal) e Fortaleza (Universidade Federal do Ceará), ambos no estado do Ceará, no período de agosto de 2005 a janeiro de 2006. Foram investigados aspectos da biologia floral e produtividade dos híbridos de girassol (Helianthus annuus L.) H250, H251 e H360, e o comportamento de pastejo e a eficiência polinizadora das abelhas Apis mellifera. Para tanto, um hectare de cada híbrido foi plantado em Russas, com intervalo de 40 dias para evitar superposição de floradas, visando coletar os dados de produtividade, comportamento de pastejo e eficiência polinizadora das abelhas. Os dados sobre biologia floral foram obtidos em Fortaleza, em duas áreas de 5 x 10m plantadas com os três híbridos. Os dados foram analisados por Análise de Variância, as médias comparadas a posteriori pelo teste de Tukey (5%) e, nos casos de interação entre fatores testados, aplicou-se análise de regressão. Os resultados mostraram que os híbridos testados apresentaram características semelhantes para os parâmetros de sua biologia floral estudados, tendo diferido apenas na profundidade da corola, porém sem afetar a atratividade destes para as abelhas Apis mellifera; as abelhas pastejam durante todo o dia nos três híbridos concentrando a coleta de néctar no período da manhã e a de pólen no final da tarde; a produtividade de aquênios foi superior à média brasileira e equivalente à média mundial. Conclui-se que as abelhas Apis mellifera, mostraram-se eficientes na polinização dos híbridos estudados, mas há a necessidade de maiores investigações para esclarecer a alta produtividade observada em capítulos protegidos da visitação de polinizadores.

There are numerous examples of how exotic insect pests and pathogens have altered the dominance of native tree species and the ecological processes and function related to those species. While targeted species may persist in a functionally altered state via vegetative sprouting, the widespread decimation of a species can have dramatic direct and indirect consequences for organisms in multiple trophic levels. Devastation due to alien insect herbivores poses the greatest threat to native insect larvae that specialize on the impacted host species. The loss of pollinators whose larvae feed on impacted species and provide services for native plants may also be a serious but yet undocumented indirect threat of these exotic invasions. The disruption of mutualistic relationships between native species will have negative consequences for those species and could potentially benefit exotic species. In the southeastern US, laurel wilt disease (LWD) is impacting numerous species in the Lauraceae family, with the majority of cases observed on Persea borbonia, a common sub-canopy tree found in many Coastal Plain habitats. This species is also known to be the primary larval host of the palamedes swallowtail (Papilio palamedes). While infection rates and crown dieback are catastrophically high (>90%), basal resprouting is a common response in P. borbonia. The exotic Cinnamomum camphora is the only Lauraceae species that has shown resistance to LWD and could benefit from opportunities to replace P. borbonia and other Lauraceae species threatened by LWD. The primary objectives of this study were four fold: 1) to quantify P. borbonia sprouting responses in the field and greenhouse and determine the effect of P. borbonia removal on the composition and abundance of woody and herbaceous plant species in the understory layer, 2) to test the relative suitability of C. camphora as an alternative larval host for P. palamedes, 3) to determine the reliance of the Platanthera ciliaris on P. palamedes for successful pollination and the relative availability of alternative long-tongued pollinators, and 4) to forecast how disease-induced shifts in the relative abundance of native (P. borbonia) and exotic (C. camphora) fruit may alter patterns of consumption and subsequent dispersal of C. camphora by birds. The field component (Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR), Jackson County, MS) of chapter two involved the removal of P. borbonia main stems to mimic the impacts of LWD which resulted in a significant increase (~50%) in light transmission. All treated individuals produced sprouts and the size and number of sprouts was positively related to initial tree size. Following the removal of P. borbonia from treatment plots, Ilex vomitoria showed the greatest increase in basal area after two years. Both woody seedlings and herbaceous plants showed no significant trends in composition and/or abundance over time. In the greenhouse (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL), the stem and leaf biomass of vegetative sprouts was significantly greater in a high-nutrient treatment. Light treatments had no effect on sprout production. Results from chapter two suggest that the loss of P. borbonia from the canopy layer may have little direct effect on plant community dynamics. In addition, I found that sprout production is vigorous in P. borbonia and the capacity to persist and tolerate future disturbances may be enhanced on more nutrient-rich sites. In chapter three, I used laboratory experiments and field observations to compare larval performance and adult female preference of P. palamedes between C. camphora and P. borbonia foliage. My results indicate moderate survivorship on C. camphora (46%) compared to P. borbonia (87%) and there were no differences in first and fourth instar growth rates between treatments. Fourth instars consumed less C. camphora foliage than P. borbonia, but metabolic efficiency did not differ between treatments. In the field and laboratory, I found no oviposition preference for C. camphora relative to P. borbonia. While females laid eggs on C. camphora during laboratory trials, the same number of eggs was also laid on inanimate objects. I conclude that C. camphora is suitable for larval development but host-switching to this species by P. palamedes will be primarily constrained by oviposition behaviors. In chapter four, I monitored pollinator visitation and measured nectar spur lengths of P. ciliaris flowers and proboscis lengths of its floral visitors (at GBNERR). Papilio palamedes was the primary visitor (44 visits) but Phoebis sennae was also observed (4 visits). There were no significant differences among P. ciliaris nectar spurlength and the proboscis lengths of P. palamedes and P. sennae. Fruit set was 55 ± 10.8% with access to pollinators and 0% on bagged inflorescences (pollinators excluded). Although I found a positive relationship between visitation and inflorescence size, there was no such pattern in fruit set, indicating that fruit set was not limited by pollinator visitation within the range of visitation rates I observed. Phoebis sennae may provide supplemental pollination service but is likely constrained by habitat preferences that do not always overlap with those of P. cilaris. Although additional observations are needed, my results suggest that expected LWD-induced declines of P. palamedes will threaten the reproductive success and persistence of P. ciliaris populations. In chapter five, I investigated redundancy between C. camphora and P. borbonia with respect to fruit characteristics (physical and chemical) and selectivity by frugivorous birds (at GBNERR). Across two winter survey periods I observed fruit removal from artificial infructescences. I manipulated background species upon which displays were hung (Myrica cerifera and Triadica sebifera) and the accessibility of the displays. Using motion-activated cameras I confirmed foraging bouts on both P. borbonia and C. camphora fruits by three bird species (Dumetella carolinensis, Turdus migratorius, and Catharus guttatus). There was no significant difference in selectivity between fruit types during year one of my surveys but there was a significant preference for C. camphora in year two, which coincided with significantly lower mean daily temperatures. Background tree species and accessibility had no apparent effect on fruit preference. Total polyphenols and pulp:seed ratio were significantly higher in C. camphora fruit. I conclude that the fruits of C. camphora and P. borbonia represent nearly substitutable resources for native birds. However, native species may prefer C. camphora fruit in times of energetic stress. The decline of P. borbonia will likely increase the consumption and dispersal of C. camphora fruits. Additional studies are required to determine if such changes could ultimately increase the distribution and abundance of this exotic species. Combined, the chapters of this dissertation present substantial empirical evidence for the potential multi-trophic level impacts of an exotic plant disease. While it remains unclear how dramatic these impacts will be, the approach used here is vital for understanding and mitigating the long-term ecological effects of species/disease invasions.

FLORES, Lilian Maria Araújo de. A importância dos habitats naturais no entorno de plantações de cajueiro anão precoce (Anacardium occidentale L.) para o sucesso reprodutivo. 2012. 44 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em ecologia e recursos naturais)- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza-CE, 2012. / Submitted by Elineudson Ribeiro (elineudsonr@gmail.com) on 2016-05-24T17:50:51Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_lmaflores.pdf: 1439184 bytes, checksum: 2c8f58333da51b8133cf592613637010 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by José Jairo Viana de Sousa (jairo@ufc.br) on 2016-05-27T20:39:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_lmaflores.pdf: 1439184 bytes, checksum: 2c8f58333da51b8133cf592613637010 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-27T20:39:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_lmaflores.pdf: 1439184 bytes, checksum: 2c8f58333da51b8133cf592613637010 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / The expansion of the agriculture has led to the changes in the natural habitat and the reduction of pollinators. The cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is an economically important cultivated crop in Northeastern Brazil due to its nut, oil and cashew apple production. However, changes in the landscape may have been causing low fruit set. Our aim was to assess the importance of natural habitats conservation to the provision of pollinators to cultivated cashew orchards. To do so, we observed the importance of the natural areas on the abundance and richness of the floral visitors and the effect of these interactions on the cashew’s reproductive success. We carried out the study in the municipality of Horizonte, Ceará, from July to December 2011. We collected all floral visitors and reported the fruiting rate (fruit/flower ratio) in cashew crops near fragments of native vegetation at different distances. Our results show that the cashew relies on visiting insects for fruit set. Bees and wasps were the main visitors, with the former being the most frequent. Also, the quality of the natural habitat has great influence on the number of species and density of the visitors in the orchard. Our findings show the importance of ecosystem services to these cultivated cashew orchards. / A expansão da agricultura tem levado à alteração nos habitats naturais e à drástica redução de polinizadores. Uma cultura economicamente importante para o nordeste do Brasil é o cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale L.) devido à sua produção de castanha, óleo e pseudofruto. Entretanto, as alterações na paisagem podem estar ocasionando baixo rendimento em sua frutificação. Este trabalho teve como objetivo discutir a importância da conservação de habitats naturais para o fornecimento de polinizadores ao cajueiro cultivado. Para alcançar este objetivo, experimentos foram realizados a fim de observar a importância dos habitats naturais no entorno de plantações de cajueiro para a abundância e a riqueza de visitantes florais e consequentemente para o sucesso reprodutivo do cajueiro. O estudo foi desenvolvido no município de Horizonte – CE entre julho e dezembro de 2011, em plantios de caju próximos a fragmentos de vegetação nativa. Foram coletados todos os visitantes florais do cajueiro a diferentes distâncias do habitat natural. Os principais grupos coletados foram abelhas e vespas, com frequência de visitação significativamente maior das abelhas. Foi observado o percentual de frutificação (razão fruto/flor), onde o cajueiro demonstrou dependência dos insetos polinizadores para a produção de frutos. Como resultado, a qualidade do habitat natural apresentou influência sobre o número de espécies e a densidade dos insetos visitantes do plantio, demonstrando a importância dos serviços prestados pelo ecossistema a esses plantios de caju.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-06T13:03:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-02-27. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-10-06T13:18:19Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000847211_20170226.pdf: 465306 bytes, checksum: 77beb7e97042d7dbb1b1e6f120e84104 (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2017-03-03T11:01:32Z: 000847211_20170226.pdf,. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2017-03-03T11:02:41Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000847211.pdf: 5262734 bytes, checksum: 2f62d3405020ebd2488db18ef74342e7 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A família Bignoniaceae é um bom modelo dos tipos de diversificação evolutiva que deram origem à diversidade de comunidades de plantas tropicais, sendo sua interação com os polinizadores um fator determinante para tal. Zeyheria tuberculosa é uma espécie ameaçada de extinção e apresenta características relacionadas à síndrome de melitofilia. Informações sobre a reprodução desta espécie poderão auxiliar na compreensão dos processos ecológicos que podem ter levado esta espécie a ser incluída na lista vermelha das espécies ameaçadas de extinção. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo central investigar a biologia floral de Z. tuberculosa, enfocando o padrão de secreção de néctar e as características funcionais e estruturais do nectário floral, responsável pela produção do recurso essencial à manutenção da interação com os visitantes florais. Os resultados obtidos foram divididos em dois capítulos que abordam questões específicas e complementares. O primeiro contempla informações sobre os eventos ocorridos durante a antese floral, a ecologia da polinização e o padrão de secreção de néctar em plantas de Z. tuberculosa situadas em fragmentos de floresta estacional semidecídua, imersos em uma paisagem alterada. O segundo aborda a estrutura e o funcionamento do nectário floral desta espécie, com enfoque nas características relacionadas ao tipo de secreção. Para o Capítulo 1, monitoramos flores durante todo o período de antese; fizemos observações focais dos visitantes e os capturamos para examinar a área de deposição de pólen; registramos a porcentagem de grãos de pólen viáveis e verificamos o período de receptividade do estigma; obtivemos dados relativos à morfometria das flores e das abelhas polinizadoras; fizemos testes de autoincompatibilidade para avaliar a dependência de vetores de pólen para a fecundação cruzada; avaliamos a dinâmica de secreção de néctar através dos... / The Bignoniaceae family is a good model for studies about evolutionary diversification that gave rise to the diversity of tropical plant communities, and the interaction with pollinators is a determining factor. Zeyheria tuberculosa is an endangered species and has characteristics related to melittophily syndrome. Information on the reproduction of this species may help to understand the ecological processes that may have led this species to be included in the Red List of endangered species. This goal of this study was to investigate the floral biology of Z. tuberculosa, focusing on the pattern of nectar secretion and the functional and structural characteristics of the floral nectary, which is the responsible for producing the essential resource for maintaining the interaction with pollinators. The results were divided into two sections that deal with specific and complementary issues. The first includes information about the events of floral anthesis, the pollination ecology and the pattern of nectar secretion in plants of Z. tuberculosa located in semi-deciduous forest fragments, immersed in a modified landscape. The second deals with the structure and functioning of the floral nectary of this species, focusing on the characteristics related to the type of secretion. For Chapter 1, we monitored flowers throughout anthesis; we performed focal observations of floral visitors and captured them to examine the pollen deposition area; recorded the percentage of viable pollen grains and the period of stigma receptivity; obtained data on the morphometry of flowers and pollinator bees; made self-incompatibility tests to assess the dependence of pollen vectors for cross-fertilization; evaluated the dynamics of nectar secretion through the volume, concentration and total milligrams of sugars parameters, using the latter parameter to calculate the caloric supply available to pollinators by flower and plant, and we carried out analyzes on the ... / FAPESP: 2008/55434-7

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:58:03Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_acc_me_jabo.pdf: 662789 bytes, checksum: 2b185ee7df4afd2dda1bcd07f0bcee1a (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A procura cada vez maior por uma alimentação saudável e balanceada tem levado a um aumento no consumo de frutas e verduras, e a uma maior diversificação pelos consumidores. Em virtude disso, o consumo de frutas exóticas tem aumentado nos últimos anos, destacando-se, entre os produtos comercializados, a pitaya. Por ser uma cultura ainda incipiente no país, há a necessidade de estabelecimento de pesquisas quanto ao seu cultivo para dar suporte aos produtores. Neste sentido, este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de realizar a caracterização do ciclo de produção da pitaya vermelha (Hylocereus undatus) na região de Jaboticabal, SP e a frutificação e qualidade de frutos em função da fonte de pólen, do ambiente de cultivo e da época de produção. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3X2X2 (três espécies doadoras de pólen: H. undatus, H. polyrhizus e Selenicereus setaceus, dois ambientes – condução sob tela plástica branca e preta, e duas épocas de polinização: março e abril), com quatro repetições. Observou-se que a emissão de gemas e o florescimento na cultura da pitaya ocorrem com a associação de altas temperaturas e precipitação, havendo constante emissão de botões florais durante os meses de novembro a abril, com pico de florescimento no mês de dezembro. O clone avaliado mostrou-se auto-incompatível, sendo necessária polinização cruzada, com pólen de outras espécies de pitaya para garantir a frutificação. As condições climáticas influenciaram diretamente do desenvolvimento e na qualidade dos frutos obtidos / The increasing demand for a healthy and balanced diet has led to an increased on fruits and vegetables expenditure, and greater diversification by the consumer. As a result, consumption of exotic fruits has increased in recent years, especially the dragon fruit. Due of the fact that is a new crop in Brazil country, researches are needed about their cultivation to support their producers. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of assess the phenology of red dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) on Jaboticabal, Brazil, and the effect of pollen source, environment for cultivation, and time on fruit set and fruit quality. The experimental design was entirely randomized, in a 3 X 2 X 2 (three pollen sources: H. undatus, H. polyrhizus and Selenicereus. setaceus X two environment for cultivation – under plastic screen black or white, X two times of pollination: March and April) factorial arrangement, with 4 replicates. It was observed that the issue of floral buds and the bloom on dragon fruit culture occurs with a combination of high temperatures and rainfall, with constant emission of flower buds during the months from November to April, with peak bloom in December. The clone evaluated demonstrated self-incompatible, requiring cross-pollination with foreign pollen to ensure fruit set. The environmental conditions influences directly on fruit development and quality

Interações ecológicas interespecíficas que resultam em benefício para todos os organismos participantes são conhecidas como mutualismo. No entanto, a troca de benefícios apresenta custos para as espécies participantes. Este fato abre espaço para o surgimento de espécies que adotam estratégias oportunistas, denominadas parasitas de mutualismos. As plantas do gênero Ficus são adequadas para estudos dessas interações, pois apresentam relação mutualística com vespas polinizadoras da família Agaonidae e são exploradas por vespas não-polinizadoras (parasitas do mutualismo). O objetivo desse estudo foi elucidar a biologia larval de vespas não-polinizadoras do gênero Idarnes pertencentes aos grupos carme e flavicollis associadas a Ficus citrifolia no campus da USP em Ribeirão Preto. Foi possível elucidar que a espécie de Idarnes do grupo flavicollis é galhadora, ao passo que a espécie do grupo carme é incapaz de induzir galhas, sendo provavelmente inquilinas específicas da espécie polinizadora. Vespas flavicollis ovipositam nos sicônios antes da polinização e evitam a retaliação pela planta, adotando mecanismo de oviposição semelhante ao das vespas polinizadoras. Vespas carme, por sua vez, depositam seus ovos diretamente dentro do saco embrionário de flores já galhadas, onde se localiza a larva da polinizadora. Contrariando especulações prévias, os resultados mostram que mesmo em espécies próximas filogeneticamente, e.g. grupos flavicollis e carme do gênero Idarnes, podem ocorrer variações acentuadas na biologia e na estratégia de exploração de recursos. / Interspecific ecological interactions which benefit all participants are known as mutualisms. However, the benefit exchange implies in costs for the involved species. This fact enables the appearance of species adopting opportunist strategies, known as parasites of mutualism. Plants belonging to the genus Ficus are suitable for studying these ecological interactions since they show a mutualistic interaction with pollinating wasps belonging to Agaonidae family and are exploited by non-pollinating wasps (parasites of the mutualism). The aim of this study was to elucidate the larval biology of non-pollinating fig wasps, genus Idarnes, belonging to flavicollis and carme species groups, associated with Ficus citrifolia at USP campus in Ribeirão Preto. We showed that species of flavicollis group are gallers, while species of carme group were not able to induce galls, probably being specific inquilines of the pollinating species. flavicollis wasps oviposit in syconia before receptivity and avoid retaliation by the plant, adopting a similar mechanism of oviposition to the one of the pollinators. carme wasps, on the other hand, deposit their eggs directly inside the embrionary sac of already galled flowers, where the pollinator larva is located. In disagreement with previous speculations, the results show that even in phylogenetically close species, such as flavicollis and carme species groups, there may be considerable variation in biology and resource exploitation strategies.