Vibrational Spectroscopy Coupled to a Multivariate Analysis Tiered Approach for Argentinean Honey Provenance Confirmation

In the present work, the provenance discrimination of Argentinian honeys was used as case study to compare the capabilities of three spectroscopic techniques as fast screening platforms for honey authentication purposes. Multifloral honeys were collected among three main honey-producing regions of Argentina over four harvesting seasons. Each sample was fingerprinted by FT-MIR, NIR and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The spectroscopic platforms were compared on the basis of the classification performance achieved under a supervised chemometric approach. Furthermore, low- mid- and high-level data fusion were attempted in order to enhance the classification results. Finally, the best-performing solution underwent to SIMCA modelling with the purpose of reproducing a food authentication scenario. All the developed classification models underwent to a “year-by-year” validation strategy, enabling a sound assessment of their long-term robustness and excluding any issue of model overfitting. Excellent classification scores were achieved by all the technologies and nearly perfect classification was provided by FT-MIR. All the data fusion strategies provided satisfying outcomes, with the mid- and high-level approaches outperforming the low-level data fusion. However, no significant advantage over the FT-MIR alone was obtained. SIMCA modelling of FT-MIR data produced highly sensitive and specific models and an overall prediction ability improvement was achieved when more harvesting seasons were used for the model calibration (86.7% sensitivity and 91.1% specificity). The results obtained in the present work suggested the major potential of FT-MIR for fingerprinting-based honey authentication and demonstrated that accuracy levels that may be commercially useful can be reached. On the other hand, the combination of multiple vibrational spectroscopic fingerprints represents a choice that should be carefully evaluated from a cost/benefit standpoint within the industrial context.Fil: Damiani, Tito. Universita Degli Studi Di Parma. Departamento de Alimentos y Drogas; ItaliaFil: Alonso Salces, Rosa Maria. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Aubone, Inés. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Baeten, Vincent. Walloon Agricultural Research Centre; BélgicaFil: Arnould, Quentin. Walloon Agricultural Research Centre; BélgicaFil: Dall'Asta, Chiara. Universita Degli Studi Di Parma. Departamento de Alimentos y Drogas; ItaliaFil: Fuselli, Sandra Rosa. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Pierna, Juan Antonio. Walloon Agricultural Research Centre; Bélgic

Natural strategies for the control of Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood in honey bees: a review

American foulbrood (AFB) is a severe bacterial disease that affects larvae of honey bees (Apis mellifera). The causative agent of AFB is the spore-forming bacteria Paenibacillus larvae. The use of antibiotics for the control of AFB has led to the appearance of resistant bacterial strains and residues in beehive products. Nowadays, antibiotics are legally banned in several countries, and the affected colonies have to be destroyed by burning the hives. Therefore, the development of alternative methods for the control and prevention of AFB is necessary. In this context, different natural strategies based on the application of essential oils, plant extracts, propolis, royal jelly, nonconventional natural molecules, bacteria, and bacteriocines, have been studied in vitro and in vivo for the prevention and control of P. larvae. The experimental data achieved from these studies are reviewed and discussed in the present review, which intend to be a starting point for future research in the field.Fil: Alonso Salces, Rosa Maria. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Cugnata, Noelia Melina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Guaspari, Elisa. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Pellegrini, María Celeste. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Aubone, Inés. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: de Piano, Fiorella Giselle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Antunez, Karina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; UruguayFil: Fuselli, Sandra Rosa. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; Argentin

Physicochemical Characterization Of Argentinian Honeys From The Phytogeographic Provinces Pampeana, Espinal And Monte Based On Their Sugar Profiles And Quality Parameters

The honeys from the Phytogeographic Provinces (PP) of the south of Buenos Aires province (Argentina) were characterised by the sugar composition and physicochemical parameters used for honey quality control. A large set (n=329) of traceable raw honey samples obtained from beekeepers were analysed and met the specifications of the national and/or international standards for the evaluated parameters, which denoted their blossom origin and confirmed their authenticity, good maturity and freshness. The influence of flora and the pedoclimatic conditions of each phytogeographical region, as well as their beekeeping practices, on the physical and chemical properties of honey allowed its characterization. Thus, the honeys from the southeast of Buenos Aires province were characterized by higher contents of moisture, fructose, maltose, erlose, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and ash, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) and slightly lighter colours; while southwest honeys showed higher free acidities, sucrose content and ºBrix values. Honeys from the PP Espinal exhibited characteristic lower contents of fructose, HMF and ash and EC values, and larger amounts of sucrose. Honeys from the PP Monte presented typical lower moisture contents and slightly darker colours. Honeys from the PP Pampeana were typified by higher amounts of fructose