REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY AND POLLINATION OF THE BRAZIL NUT TREE (Bertholletia excelsa HUMB. & BONPL. LECYTHIDACEAE) IN EASTERN AMAZONIA

The brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa Humb. & Bonpl. Lecythidaceae) is an economically important fruit tree, endemic to the Amazon Region. Investigations of the reproductive phenology and insect pollinators of B. excelsa were carried out in the orchards of Embrapa Amazonia Oriental, in Belem (1o27’S 48o29’W) and in the experimental Field Station of CapitaoPoco (1o27’S 48o29’W), in the eastern region of Para State, Brazil. The main flowering period occurred from August to November, during the driest months of the year and the main fruiting period lasted from October to December. The maturation period extended throughout the following year with the ripening and dissemination occurring in the rainy season, from February to April. The pollen:ovule ratio was 26,755.29. Indicating obligate xenogamy. The main pollinators are medium- to large-sized bees, belonging to the following species: Xylocopa frontalis, X. aurulenta, Epicharis rustica, E. affinis, Centris similis, Eulaema nigrita, E. cingulata, Bombus brevivillus, B. transversalis . From this study it was concluded that B. excelsa is a mellitophilous species dependent on the pollinators activity to ensure its fruit production.