Contribución al estudio de la utilización selectiva por Apis mellifera L. de la flora local en un colmenar del NW de la Península Ibérica: (Galicia)

Contribution at the study of the selective utilization for Apis melltfera L. of the local flora in one apyary in the NW of Spain. In this work, we have determined the selective utilizatión of the pollen collection by Api.s inellifera in the species of the sub-humed mediterranean (in accordance with climatic index of Allué) zone of Galicia (NW of Spain), throughout sampling pollen loud at the hives. This was quantified the different plant used by honey bees, analyzing the relative importance of them.En el presente trabajo se ha estudiado la apetencia selectiva que Apis mellifera hace de las especies de la vegetación mediterránea subhúmeda de tendencia centroeuropea (según los índices climáticos de Allué) en Galicia (NW de España), en su recolección de polen, mediante el muestreo sistemático de cúmulos de polen corbicular. Ello ha permitido diagnosticar y cuantificar las especies preferidas y determinar la importancia relativa de cada una de ellas

Differentiation of bee pollen samples according to their intact-glucosinolate content using canonical discriminant analysis

Producción CientíficaA study is presented of the real possibilities of glucosinolate content and chemometrics (canonical discriminant analysis) to differentiate bee pollen samples from four different apiaries (Fuentelahiguera, Monte, Pistacho, Tío Natalio) located in the same geographical area. Fifteen intact-glucosinolates were quantified by means of ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass detector in forty-nine bee pollen samples. Glucosinolate residues were detected in most of the samples, and these differed in number and concentration. It was possible to directly differentiate one of the apiaries (Fuentelahiguera) from the other three (Monte, Pistacho y Tío Natalio) by comparing glucosinolate content. These three apiaries were differentiated by means of the first two canonical variables obtained from a canonical discriminant analysis. Following this analysis, more than 88% of the samples could be assigned correctly to the Pistacho and Monte apiaries, and 100% to the Tío Natalio apiary.Este trabajo forma parte de los proyectos de investigación financiados por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad e INIA-FEDER (RTA2015-00013-C03-01 y 03)

Mineral composition of bee pollen and its relationship with botanical origin and harvesting period

Producción CientíficaIn the present study, the mineral composition of seventy-one bee pollen samples from four different apiaries was determined by means of inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The results showed that there were no significant differences in relation to the overall mineral content per sample in terms of the apiary of origin or the harvesting period; the most common elements were phosphorus and potassium with concentrations ranging from 2.3 to 5.1 g/kg (dry weight). Moreover, the mineral content of the samples analyzed was similar to or higher than the recommended as well-balanced food for bees. Regarding the nutritional value for humans, bee pollen samples could be considered as a food rich in copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus. Finally, a canonical discriminant analysis was performed, and it was found that the apiary of origin could be distinguished by using the first three canonical functions; furthermore, over 90% of the samples could be correctly assigned to their corresponding apiary. The results were even better as regards the harvesting period, as only the first two canonical functions were sufficient to make a distinction between the different harvesting periods, resulting in a perfect match (100% of success rate).Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (RTI2018-096268-B-100)Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (RTA 2015-00013-C03-01 and 03)FEDER and FSE (project AGRISOST-CM S2018/BAA-4330

Map of “Castilla La Mancha” showing the sampling sites.

<p>Map of “Castilla La Mancha” showing the sampling sites.</p

Viper’s bugloss (<i>Echium</i> spp.) honey typing and establishing the pollen threshold for monofloral honey

<div><p>Honey samples (n = 126) from Castilla-La Mancha (Central Spain) were characterized based on their physicochemical properties and a melissopalynological analysis. The latter showed that <i>Echium</i> pollen type was the dominant palynomorph in most samples, representing at least 30% of the pollen in each sample. As anticipated, a relationship was observed between the proportion of this pollen and the properties of the honey. One goal of this study was to set a threshold that defines the percentage of pollen necessary for Viper’s bugloss honey to be considered monofloral or multifloral. This is a mandatory requirement in light of the publication of the European Directive 2014/63/EU establishing the regulations governing the labelling and control of honey to eradicate fraud (BOE n° 147, June 2015). By analyzing how the proportions of <i>Echium</i> pollen type affected the physicochemical and sensory parameters of the honey, the honeys analyzed could be segregated into multifloral and monofloral honeys. The data indicates that the proportion of pollen necessary to discriminate monofloral Viper’s bugloss honey lies at 70%.</p></div

Principal component analysis.

<p>Distribution of variables.</p

Diagram of the variables: Cluster analysis, Coniss package.

<p>Diagram of the variables: Cluster analysis, Coniss package.</p

Principal component analysis.

<p>Segregation of the honeys in function of the proportion of viper’s bugloss pollen.</p

Production sites and geographical coordinates.

<p>Production sites and geographical coordinates.</p

Pollen cohorts.

<p>Pollen cohorts.</p