CAN PUMPKIN BE USED AS A MELLIFEROUS PLANT?

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper was to study nectar in male and female flowers of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch) accessions, aiming at evaluating the species potential as a melliferous plant. Two experiments were conducted in an experimental area of the State University of Bahia, at the Department of Technology and Social Sciences, in Juazeiro-BA, in the period from January to December 2017. Nectar volume, soluble solids, and pH were evaluated in the two floral types using 32 accessions and Tetsukabuto hybrid, which was used as check. Using a sample of accessions, the types of sugar present in the nectar were studied. Male flowers did not have significant differences in nectar traits; however, there was significant variation in female flowers in the first experiment and in both floral types in the second experiment. In male flowers in both experiments, the maximum volume of nectar was 310 μL and in female flowers it was 803 μL. The sugar concentration was around 24 °Brix. Sucrose was similar in both floral types and was higher than glucose and fructose contents, showing mean values of 1,306.13, 357.14 and 351.88 g.mL−1, respectively. Obtaining progeny with contrasting characters in the accessions will be important for species improvement. These results indicate that pumpkin might be considered as a melliferous plant with great potential. RESUMO O trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o néctar em flores masculinas e femininas de acessos de abóbora (Cucurbita moschata Duch), visando avaliar o potencial da espécie como planta melífera. Foram realizados dois experimentos, no campo experimental da Universidade do Estado da Bahia, no Departamento de Tecnologia e Ciências Sociais, em Juazeiro-BA, no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2017. Foram avaliados volume, sólidos solúveis e pH do néctar em 32 acessos e no híbrido Tetsukabuto, como testemunha, nos dois tipos florais. Em uma amostra de acessos, foram estudados os tipos de açúcares presentes no néctar. As flores masculinas não apresentaram diferença significativa para as características do néctar, porém, as flores femininas, no primeiro experimento, e os dois tipos florais no segundo experimento apresentaram variação significativa. Nas flores masculinas dos dois experimentos, o máximo de volume de néctar foi de 310 μL e nas femininas foi de 803 μL. A concentração de açúcar ficou ao redor de 24 °Brix. A sacarose se mostrou semelhante nos dois tipos florais e foi superior ao conteúdo de glicose e de frutose, apr