Melittopalynological studies of Apis dorsata honey samples from Kolar District, Karnataka, India
Article Main
Abstract
Honeybees, while foraging for nectar on flowers, also gather some pollen which retains in the honey even after extraction. Pollen grains are the essential tools in the analysis of honey. The aim of the present report was to find the Apis dorsata honey floral resources in Kolar district state Karnataka. In the present study, the pollen content of 28 A. dorsata honey samples were collected from 5 different locations of Kolar district, Karnataka, India. Samples were subjected to Melittopalynological studies to identify their honey plant resources and colour, optic density and collection places were documented. A wide variety of pollen types represent their plant sources and their frequency classes were recognized in each honey sample. Among 28 honey samples analysed, 10 samples were identified as multifloral, 18 unifloral with predominant pollen types such as Syzygium cumini, Pongamia pinnata, Eucalyptus sp, Guizotia abyssinica, Psidium guajava and Coriandrum sativum, each count was found above 45%. Pollen spectra indicated a total of 56 pollen types belonging to 27 plant families. Fabaceae was represented as the largest family with 14 species contributing honey production. Among the habit, tree was dominant with 51.78%, followed by herbs (32.14%) and shrubs (16.07%). The economic importance of identified plants with apiculture importance was categorized as medicinal, ornamental, vegetable, timber and oil yielding, weeds, fruits and nuts. A. dorsata depends on wild trees and cultivated plants bloom throughout the year as pollen and nectar source. From the results, it is evident that there is a lot of potential in establishing beekeeping industries in the study area.
Article Details
Article Details
Keywords
Apis dorsata, Kolar district, Melittopalynology, Multifloral, Unifloral
References
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Agwu, C.O.C. & Akanbi, T.O. (1985). A palynological study of honey from four vegetation zones in Nigeria. Pollen et Spores, 27, 335-348.
Alves, R.F. & Santos, F.A.R. (2014). Plant sources for bee pollen load production in Sergipe, Northeast Brazil. Palynology, 38(1), 90-100. doi.10.1080/01916122.2013.846 280
Anita, M., Sivararam, V. & Jayaramappa, K.V. (2012). Influence of bee attractants on pollination and yield parameters in guava (Psidium guajava L.). International Journal of Plant Reproductive Biology, 4(1), 41-46.
Anklam, E. (1998). A review of the analytical methods to determine the geographical and botanical origin of honey. Food Chemistry, 63, 549-562. doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(98)00057-0
Barth, O.M. (1990). Pollen in mono?oral honeys from Brazil. Journal of Apicultural Research, 29(2), 89-94. doi.org/10.1080/00218839.1990.11101202
Barth, O.M., Munhoz, M.C. & Luz, C.F.P. (2009). Botanical origin of Apis pollen loads using colour, weight and pollen morphology data. Acta Alimentaria, 38(1), 133-139. doi.org/10.1556/aalim.2008.0026
Baum, K.A., Rubink, W.L., Coulson, R.N. & Bryant Jr. V.M. (2011). Diurnal patterns of pollen collection by feral honey bee colonies in southern Texas, USA. Palynology, 35(1), 85-93. doi.org/10.1080/01916122.2010.546621
Behera, S.S., Ray, R.C. & Zdolec, N. (2018). Lactobacillus plantarum with functional properties: An approach to increase safety and shelf-life of fermented foods. BioMed Research International, 9361614. doi.org/10.1155/20 18/9361614
Chauhan, M.S., Farooqui, A. & Trivedi, A. (2017). Plants foraged by bees for honey production in northern India: The diverse flora of India and its implications for apiculture. Acta Palaeobotanica, 57(1), 119-132. doi:10.1515/acpa-2017-0003
Deodikar, G.B. & Thakar, C.V. (1953). A pollen study of honey yielding plants of Mahabaleshwar hills. Apicultural Lab. Bulletin, No.1, 1-6.
Deodikar, G.B. (1961). Some aspects of bee botany. Indian Bee Journal, 23, 60-61.
Diaz-Losada, E., Ricciardelli-d’Albore, G. & Saa-Otero, M.P. (1998). The possible use of honeybee pollen loads in characterizing vegetation. Grana, 37(3), 155-163. doi.org/10.1080/00173139809362660
Dietz, A. (1975). Nutrition of the adult honey bee. In: The hive and the honey bee, (Graham JM, ed.) Hamilton, Illinois: Dadant & Sons. pp.125-156.
Dimou, M. & Thrasyvoulou, A. (2007). Seasonal variation in vegetation and pollen collected by honeybees in Thessaloniki, Greece. Grana, 46(4), 292-299. doi.org/10.1080/00173130701760718
Dimou, M. & Thrasyvoulou, A. (2009). Pollen analysis of honeybee rectum as a method to record the bee pollen flora of an area. Apidologie, 40, 124-133. doi.org/10.1051/apido/2008066
Erdtman, G. (1960). The acetolysis method. A revised description. Svensk Botanisk Tidskr, 54, 561-564.
Feller-Demalsy, M.J., Parent, J. & Strachan, A. (1989). Microscopic analysis of honeys from Manitoba, Canada. Journal of Apicultural Research, 28(1), 41-49. doi.org/10.1080/00218839.1989.11100819
Garg, A. (2006). Bee botany of Bhimtal in Western Himalayas: Melissopalynological analysis. 1st ed. Dehra Dun: Bishen Singh & Mahendra Pal Singh.
Jesus, M.C., Borges, R.L.B., Souza, B.A., Brandao, H.N. & Santos, F.A.R. (2015). A study of pollen from light honeys produced in Piaul state, Brazil. Palynology, 39(1), 10-124. doi:10.1080/01916122.2014.942440
Layek, U. & Karmakar, P. (2018). Pollen analysis of Apis dorsata Fabricius honeys in Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts, West Bengal. Grana, 57(4), 298-310. doi:10.1080/00173134.2017.1390604
Lieux, M.H. (1980). Acetolysis applied to microscopical honey analysis. Grana, 19, 57-61. doi.org/10.1080/00173138009424988
Lin, S.H., Chang, S.Y. & Chen, S.H. (1993). Nectar and pollen sources for honeybee (Apis cerana Fabr.) in Qinglan mangrove area, Hainan Island, China. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 48, 1266-1273.
Louveaux, J., Maurizio, A. & Vorwohl, G. (1978). Methods of melissopalynology. Bee World, 59(4), 139-157. doi.org/10.1080/0005772X.1978.11097714
Manju Sahney, Snehlata Rahi, Ajay Kumar & Roma Jaiswal. (2018). Melissopalynological studies on winter honeys from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Palynology, 42(4), 540-552. doi:10.1080/01916122.2017.1418445
Matos, V.R. & Santos, F.A.R. (2016). Pollen in honey of Melipona scutellaris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in an Atlantic rainforest area in Bahia, Brazil. Palynology, 41, 144-156. doi:10.1080/01916122.2015.1115434
Maurizio, A. (1975). Microscopy of honey. In: Honey, a comprehensive survey. (Crane E, editor). New York: Crane, Russak and Co., pp. 240-257.
Majid, M., Ellulu, M.S. & Bakar, M.F.A. (2020). Melissopalynological Study, Phenolic Compounds, and Antioxidant Properties, of Heterotrigona itama Honey from Johor, Malaysia. Hindawi Scientifica, Volume 2020, Article ID: 2529592, 9 pages doi.10.1155/2020/2529592
Moar, N.T. (1985). Pollen analysis of New Zealand honey. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 28(1), 39-70. doi.org/10.1080/00288233.1985.10426997
Moore, P.D., Webb, J.A. & Collinson, M.E. (1991). Pollen analysis. London, Blackwell Sci. Publ., (2nd edition), pp. 216.
Neha Singh & Chaturvedi, S.K. (2016). Melissopalynological Studies of Honey Samples from Bastar District, Chhattisgarh. The International Journal of Plant Reproductive Biology, 9(1), 37-40. doi.10.14787/ijprb.2017 9.1.3 7-40
Neupane, K.R., Dhakal, D.D., Thapa, R.B. & Gautam, D.M. (2006). Foraging preference of giant honeybee Apis dorsata F., to selected horticultural crops. Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, 27, 87-92.
Novais, J.S., Lima, L.C.L. & Santos, F.A.R. (2009). Botanical af?nity of pollen harvested by Apis mellifera L. in a semi-arid area from Bahia, Brazil. Grana, 48(3), 224-234. doi:10.1080/00173130903037725
Oliveira, P.P., Van Den Berg, C. & Santos, F.D.A.R.D. (2010). Pollen analysis of honeys from Caatinga vegetation of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Grana, 49(1), 66-75. doi.org/10.1080/00173130903485122
Raghunandan & Basavarajappa. (2014). Melissopalyonology of multifloral honey of Asian giant honeybee Apis dorsata fabricius at Southern Karnataka, India. Indian Journal of Applied Research, 4(8), 667-669.
Ramalho, M. & Kleinert-Giovannini, A. (1986). Some aspects of the utilization of pollen analysis in ecological research. Apidologie, 17(2), 159-174. doi.org/10.1051/apido:19860207
Ramirez-Arriaga, E., Navarro-Calvo, L.A. & Diaz-Carbajal, E. (2011). Botanical characterisation of Mexican honeys from a subtropical region (Oaxaca) based on pollen analysis. Grana, 50(1), 40-54. doi.org/10.1080/001731 34.2010.537767
Rodopoulou, M.A., Tananaki, C., Bimou, M., Liolios, V., Kanelis, D., Goras, G. & Thrasyvoulou, A. (2018). The determination of the botanical origin in honeys with over?represented pollen: combination of melissopalynological, sensory and physicochemical analysis. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 98(7), 2705-2712. doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.8764
Sajwani, A., Farooq, S.A., Patzelt, A., Eltayeb, E.A. & Bryant, V.M. (2007). Melissopalynological studies from Oman. Palynology, 31, 63-79.
Sen, J. & Banerjee, D. (1956). A pollen analysis of Indian honey. Bee World, 37(3), 52-54. doi.org/10.1080/00057 72X.1956.11094919
Shubharani, R., Sivaram, V. & Roopa, P. (2012). Assessment of honey plant resources through pollen analysis in Coorg honeys of Karnataka state. The International Journal of Plant Reproductive Biology, 4(1), 31-39.
Silva, A.P.C. & Santos, F.A.R. (2014). Pollen diversity in honey from Sergipe, Brazil. Grana, 53(2), 159-170. doi:10.1080/00173134.2014.896941
Singh, A.K. Deepak Kumar Jaiswal, Singh, H.K. & Thakur, R.K. (2016). Diversity of Bees’ flora and floral calendar of native honey bees in Nagaland, India. Advances in Life Sciences, 5(6), 2285-2292.
Tamar Keasar & Avi Shmida. (2009). An evaluation of Israeli forestry trees and shrubs as potential forage plants. Israeli Journal of Plant Sciences, 57(1), 49-64. doi:10.1560/IJPS.57.1-2.49
Terrab, A., Pontes, A., Heredia, F.J. & Diez, M.J. (2004). Palynological and geographical characterization of avocado honeys in Spain. Grana, 43(2), 116-121. doi.org/10.1080/00173130310017634
Turner, V. (1984). Banksia pollen as a source of protein in the diet of two Australian marsupials Cercartetus nanus and Tarsipus rostratus. Oikos, 43, 53-61.
Upadhyay, D. & Bera, S. (2012). Pollen spectra of natural honey samples from a coastal district of Orissa, India. Journal of Apicultural Research, 51(1), 10-22. doi.org/1 0.3896/IBRA.1.51.1.03
Vishnu-Mittre. (1958). Pollen content of some Indian honeys. Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 17, 123-124.
White, J.W. (2005). Honey. In: The hive and the honey bee, (Graham JM, ed.) Hamilton, Illinois: Dadant & Sons. pp. 869-927
Yao, Y.F., Bera, S., Wang, Y.F. & Li, C.S. (2006). Nectar and pollen source for honeybee Apis cerana cerana Fabr. during October-November in Qinglan Harbor mangrove area, Hainan Island, China. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 11(48), 1266-1273.
Agwu, C.O.C. & Akanbi, T.O. (1985). A palynological study of honey from four vegetation zones in Nigeria. Pollen et Spores, 27, 335-348.
Alves, R.F. & Santos, F.A.R. (2014). Plant sources for bee pollen load production in Sergipe, Northeast Brazil. Palynology, 38(1), 90-100. doi.10.1080/01916122.2013.846 280
Anita, M., Sivararam, V. & Jayaramappa, K.V. (2012). Influence of bee attractants on pollination and yield parameters in guava (Psidium guajava L.). International Journal of Plant Reproductive Biology, 4(1), 41-46.
Anklam, E. (1998). A review of the analytical methods to determine the geographical and botanical origin of honey. Food Chemistry, 63, 549-562. doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(98)00057-0
Barth, O.M. (1990). Pollen in mono?oral honeys from Brazil. Journal of Apicultural Research, 29(2), 89-94. doi.org/10.1080/00218839.1990.11101202
Barth, O.M., Munhoz, M.C. & Luz, C.F.P. (2009). Botanical origin of Apis pollen loads using colour, weight and pollen morphology data. Acta Alimentaria, 38(1), 133-139. doi.org/10.1556/aalim.2008.0026
Baum, K.A., Rubink, W.L., Coulson, R.N. & Bryant Jr. V.M. (2011). Diurnal patterns of pollen collection by feral honey bee colonies in southern Texas, USA. Palynology, 35(1), 85-93. doi.org/10.1080/01916122.2010.546621
Behera, S.S., Ray, R.C. & Zdolec, N. (2018). Lactobacillus plantarum with functional properties: An approach to increase safety and shelf-life of fermented foods. BioMed Research International, 9361614. doi.org/10.1155/20 18/9361614
Chauhan, M.S., Farooqui, A. & Trivedi, A. (2017). Plants foraged by bees for honey production in northern India: The diverse flora of India and its implications for apiculture. Acta Palaeobotanica, 57(1), 119-132. doi:10.1515/acpa-2017-0003
Deodikar, G.B. & Thakar, C.V. (1953). A pollen study of honey yielding plants of Mahabaleshwar hills. Apicultural Lab. Bulletin, No.1, 1-6.
Deodikar, G.B. (1961). Some aspects of bee botany. Indian Bee Journal, 23, 60-61.
Diaz-Losada, E., Ricciardelli-d’Albore, G. & Saa-Otero, M.P. (1998). The possible use of honeybee pollen loads in characterizing vegetation. Grana, 37(3), 155-163. doi.org/10.1080/00173139809362660
Dietz, A. (1975). Nutrition of the adult honey bee. In: The hive and the honey bee, (Graham JM, ed.) Hamilton, Illinois: Dadant & Sons. pp.125-156.
Dimou, M. & Thrasyvoulou, A. (2007). Seasonal variation in vegetation and pollen collected by honeybees in Thessaloniki, Greece. Grana, 46(4), 292-299. doi.org/10.1080/00173130701760718
Dimou, M. & Thrasyvoulou, A. (2009). Pollen analysis of honeybee rectum as a method to record the bee pollen flora of an area. Apidologie, 40, 124-133. doi.org/10.1051/apido/2008066
Erdtman, G. (1960). The acetolysis method. A revised description. Svensk Botanisk Tidskr, 54, 561-564.
Feller-Demalsy, M.J., Parent, J. & Strachan, A. (1989). Microscopic analysis of honeys from Manitoba, Canada. Journal of Apicultural Research, 28(1), 41-49. doi.org/10.1080/00218839.1989.11100819
Garg, A. (2006). Bee botany of Bhimtal in Western Himalayas: Melissopalynological analysis. 1st ed. Dehra Dun: Bishen Singh & Mahendra Pal Singh.
Jesus, M.C., Borges, R.L.B., Souza, B.A., Brandao, H.N. & Santos, F.A.R. (2015). A study of pollen from light honeys produced in Piaul state, Brazil. Palynology, 39(1), 10-124. doi:10.1080/01916122.2014.942440
Layek, U. & Karmakar, P. (2018). Pollen analysis of Apis dorsata Fabricius honeys in Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts, West Bengal. Grana, 57(4), 298-310. doi:10.1080/00173134.2017.1390604
Lieux, M.H. (1980). Acetolysis applied to microscopical honey analysis. Grana, 19, 57-61. doi.org/10.1080/00173138009424988
Lin, S.H., Chang, S.Y. & Chen, S.H. (1993). Nectar and pollen sources for honeybee (Apis cerana Fabr.) in Qinglan mangrove area, Hainan Island, China. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 48, 1266-1273.
Louveaux, J., Maurizio, A. & Vorwohl, G. (1978). Methods of melissopalynology. Bee World, 59(4), 139-157. doi.org/10.1080/0005772X.1978.11097714
Manju Sahney, Snehlata Rahi, Ajay Kumar & Roma Jaiswal. (2018). Melissopalynological studies on winter honeys from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Palynology, 42(4), 540-552. doi:10.1080/01916122.2017.1418445
Matos, V.R. & Santos, F.A.R. (2016). Pollen in honey of Melipona scutellaris L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in an Atlantic rainforest area in Bahia, Brazil. Palynology, 41, 144-156. doi:10.1080/01916122.2015.1115434
Maurizio, A. (1975). Microscopy of honey. In: Honey, a comprehensive survey. (Crane E, editor). New York: Crane, Russak and Co., pp. 240-257.
Majid, M., Ellulu, M.S. & Bakar, M.F.A. (2020). Melissopalynological Study, Phenolic Compounds, and Antioxidant Properties, of Heterotrigona itama Honey from Johor, Malaysia. Hindawi Scientifica, Volume 2020, Article ID: 2529592, 9 pages doi.10.1155/2020/2529592
Moar, N.T. (1985). Pollen analysis of New Zealand honey. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 28(1), 39-70. doi.org/10.1080/00288233.1985.10426997
Moore, P.D., Webb, J.A. & Collinson, M.E. (1991). Pollen analysis. London, Blackwell Sci. Publ., (2nd edition), pp. 216.
Neha Singh & Chaturvedi, S.K. (2016). Melissopalynological Studies of Honey Samples from Bastar District, Chhattisgarh. The International Journal of Plant Reproductive Biology, 9(1), 37-40. doi.10.14787/ijprb.2017 9.1.3 7-40
Neupane, K.R., Dhakal, D.D., Thapa, R.B. & Gautam, D.M. (2006). Foraging preference of giant honeybee Apis dorsata F., to selected horticultural crops. Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, 27, 87-92.
Novais, J.S., Lima, L.C.L. & Santos, F.A.R. (2009). Botanical af?nity of pollen harvested by Apis mellifera L. in a semi-arid area from Bahia, Brazil. Grana, 48(3), 224-234. doi:10.1080/00173130903037725
Oliveira, P.P., Van Den Berg, C. & Santos, F.D.A.R.D. (2010). Pollen analysis of honeys from Caatinga vegetation of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Grana, 49(1), 66-75. doi.org/10.1080/00173130903485122
Raghunandan & Basavarajappa. (2014). Melissopalyonology of multifloral honey of Asian giant honeybee Apis dorsata fabricius at Southern Karnataka, India. Indian Journal of Applied Research, 4(8), 667-669.
Ramalho, M. & Kleinert-Giovannini, A. (1986). Some aspects of the utilization of pollen analysis in ecological research. Apidologie, 17(2), 159-174. doi.org/10.1051/apido:19860207
Ramirez-Arriaga, E., Navarro-Calvo, L.A. & Diaz-Carbajal, E. (2011). Botanical characterisation of Mexican honeys from a subtropical region (Oaxaca) based on pollen analysis. Grana, 50(1), 40-54. doi.org/10.1080/001731 34.2010.537767
Rodopoulou, M.A., Tananaki, C., Bimou, M., Liolios, V., Kanelis, D., Goras, G. & Thrasyvoulou, A. (2018). The determination of the botanical origin in honeys with over?represented pollen: combination of melissopalynological, sensory and physicochemical analysis. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 98(7), 2705-2712. doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.8764
Sajwani, A., Farooq, S.A., Patzelt, A., Eltayeb, E.A. & Bryant, V.M. (2007). Melissopalynological studies from Oman. Palynology, 31, 63-79.
Sen, J. & Banerjee, D. (1956). A pollen analysis of Indian honey. Bee World, 37(3), 52-54. doi.org/10.1080/00057 72X.1956.11094919
Shubharani, R., Sivaram, V. & Roopa, P. (2012). Assessment of honey plant resources through pollen analysis in Coorg honeys of Karnataka state. The International Journal of Plant Reproductive Biology, 4(1), 31-39.
Silva, A.P.C. & Santos, F.A.R. (2014). Pollen diversity in honey from Sergipe, Brazil. Grana, 53(2), 159-170. doi:10.1080/00173134.2014.896941
Singh, A.K. Deepak Kumar Jaiswal, Singh, H.K. & Thakur, R.K. (2016). Diversity of Bees’ flora and floral calendar of native honey bees in Nagaland, India. Advances in Life Sciences, 5(6), 2285-2292.
Tamar Keasar & Avi Shmida. (2009). An evaluation of Israeli forestry trees and shrubs as potential forage plants. Israeli Journal of Plant Sciences, 57(1), 49-64. doi:10.1560/IJPS.57.1-2.49
Terrab, A., Pontes, A., Heredia, F.J. & Diez, M.J. (2004). Palynological and geographical characterization of avocado honeys in Spain. Grana, 43(2), 116-121. doi.org/10.1080/00173130310017634
Turner, V. (1984). Banksia pollen as a source of protein in the diet of two Australian marsupials Cercartetus nanus and Tarsipus rostratus. Oikos, 43, 53-61.
Upadhyay, D. & Bera, S. (2012). Pollen spectra of natural honey samples from a coastal district of Orissa, India. Journal of Apicultural Research, 51(1), 10-22. doi.org/1 0.3896/IBRA.1.51.1.03
Vishnu-Mittre. (1958). Pollen content of some Indian honeys. Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 17, 123-124.
White, J.W. (2005). Honey. In: The hive and the honey bee, (Graham JM, ed.) Hamilton, Illinois: Dadant & Sons. pp. 869-927
Yao, Y.F., Bera, S., Wang, Y.F. & Li, C.S. (2006). Nectar and pollen source for honeybee Apis cerana cerana Fabr. during October-November in Qinglan Harbor mangrove area, Hainan Island, China. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 11(48), 1266-1273.
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Melittopalynological studies of Apis dorsata honey samples from Kolar District, Karnataka, India. (2021). Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 13(2), 654-667. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v13i2.2189
