What is known about chili pepper pollination (Capsicum chinense Jacq., Solanaceae) around the world and its influence on production?

Capsicum is one of the main genera of Solanaceae family and its crops have their production improved when subjected to insect pollination. In this study we have compiled six decades of accumulated global knowledge about floral visitors of Capsicum chinense to understand the gaps linked to the relationship between pollination and production. The survey of published studies on the floral plant-visitor interaction of C. chinense was carried out in three scientific databases: Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scopus, from 1970 to 2024. From the works found, data from year of collection and publication, country of study, type of study area (open field or greenhouse), floral visitors and reproductive experiments. Four works were found, all carried out in the Yucatán / Mexico peninsula, in the years 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2017, three of which were conducted in an open environment. Floral visitors were classified according to body size and pollen collection mechanism. All floral visitors found (36 species) are of the order Hymenoptera, with the Apidae family (72%, 26 species) being the most representative. Regarding the size of floral visitors, the most diverse group was that of small bees (17 species, 45%). All large bees and 53% of small bees can vibrate the anthers. This study reveals that the interactions between C. chinense and its potential pollinators are few explored worldwide, with the need for studies that investigate the floral plant-visitor relations and that evaluate the influence of pollination in quantitative and qualitative aspects of production.