Pollen Content in Honey of Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in an Atlântica Forest Fragment in the Municipality of Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil.

The productive and reproductive characteristics of Apis mellifera L. bees are directly affected by climatic conditions and food availability in the region where the bees are reared or kept; therefore, food storage (honey and pollen), oviposition and population growth of these bees are subject to seasonal variations. These variations lead the bees to constantly search for food, taking exploratory trips, called “foraging”. This study investigated the botanical origin of nectar sources collected by A. mellifera bees for six consecutive months, from October/2011 to March/2012 in six bee colonies. The study was carried out in the experimental apiary of the Entomology and Acarology Department of the College of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz”, from the University of São Paulo, in the municipality of Piracicaba, São Paulo State. The study site has a predominance vegetation of Semideciduous Forest (Atlântica Forest). In each sampling month, we analyzed the pollen types in the honey samples. We used the acetolysis method to prepare the samples for melissopalynology. We carried out the quantitative analysis by successive count of 900 sample grains. The samples were grouped in terms of botanical species, families and/or pollen types. The results show that bees used several plants from the region as a nectar source. However, Arecaceae, Fabaceae/Mimosoideae and Myrtaceae families were predominant throughout the sampling period. The occurrence of these plant species was significant and essential for the maintenance of the bee colonies

Physico-chemical characteristics of honey produced by Apis mellifera in the Picos region, state of Piauí, Brazil

The objectives of this research were to determine physico-chemical characteristics of 1,758 Apis mellifera L. honey samples produced by in the productive pole of Picos, state of Piauí, to understand, based on these characteristics, how they are grouped and to determine the percentage of honey that fit the specifications determined by Brazilian legislation. Thirty-five honey samples were collected directly from beekeepers for determination of total sugars, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, humidity, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), protein, ash, pH, acidity, formol index, electrical conductivity, viscosity and color. Mean values of each one of the analyzed physico-chemical parameters are within the limits established by the current Brazilian legislation, but it was verified for apparent sacarosis, diastase activity and HMF, values different from the established ones. Protein and HMF were the traits that contributed most for group formation

Nosema ceranae (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) Does Not Cause Collapse of Colonies of Africanized Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Tropical Climate

Nosemosis is an important disease that affects honey bees (Apis mellifera Lineu), caused by obligate intracellular parasites, Nosema  apis  and/or  Nosema  ceranae. Since the initial detection of N. ceranae in A. mellifera coincided with recent large-scale losses of bee colonies worldwide, the impacts of this parasite under field conditions are of great interest. Here we test two hypotheses, the first one, whether the climatic variables (temperature, air humidity and precipitation) influence the intensity of infection of the microsporidium Nosema spp. in Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera), and the second, whether the local of hive installation (outdoor or roofed) influences the intensity of infection of these spores in Africanized honey bees. Between August 2013 and August 2016, samples of Africanized bees were collected weekly from 20 colonies, of which ten were located in an open area (outdoor apiary) and ten under a roof on a concrete floor (roofed apiary). N.  ceranae was the only species present. The type of apiary did not influence (p > 0.05) the number of spores of N. ceranae in Africanized bees. However, the infection intensities of the roofed apiary colonies were lower in the autumn. Regarding the meteorological parameters, there was a negative correlation between the winter infection intensities and the minimum temperature in the roofed apiary and the humidity in the outdoor apiary. The highest infection intensities occurred in both apiaries in the spring and summer, which may be related to higher pollen production. On average, the infection intensity was 16.19 ± 15.81 x 105, ranging from zero to 100.5 x105, and there were no records of collapse during the three years

Seleção de 39 variedades de cana-de-açúcar para a alimentação animal

It was developed at the Institute of Zootecnia, in Nova Odessa, SP, an experiment to evaluate 39 sugarcanes, for animal feeding. The sugarcanes were evaluated through analysis of main components and grouping. The analysis of grouping was made by the method UPGA (unweighted pair group method with arithimetic average), being taken into account, 4 characters: production of dry matter, percentage of total carbohydrates available, percentage neutral detergent fiber and percentage of effective degradability of dry matter. Being taken into account just the quality and degradability the groups 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were selected. Including in the evaluation, the production of dry matter, the selected groups were the one of number 6, 8 and 9.Foi desenvolvido no Instituto de Zootecnia, em Nova Odessa, SP, um experimento para avaliar 39 variedades de canas-de-açúcar, com vistas à alimentação animal. As canas foram avaliadas através de análise sob componentes principais e agrupamento. A análise de agrupamento foi efetuada pelo método UPGA (unweighted pair group method with arithimetic average), levando-se em conta, 4 caracteres, produção de matéria seca, teor de carboidratos totais não estruturais, teor de fibra insolúvel em detergente neutro e degradabilidade efetiva da matéria seca. Levando-se em conta apenas a qualidade e degradabilidade foram selecionados os grupos 6, 7, 8, 9 e 10. Incluindo na avaliação, a produção de matéria seca, os grupos selecionados foram os de número 6, 8 e 9

Botanical Origin of Protein Sources Used by Honeybees (Apis mellifera) in an Atlantic Forest

Productive and reproductive traits of beehives are influenced by climate and food availability in the region where the bees are reared or maintained, thus honey and pollen storage, egg-laying conditions of the queen as well as comb occupation are subject to seasonal variations. The present study was conducted in the apiary of the Department of Entomology and Acarology, College of Agriculture Luiz de Queiroz, ESALQ/USP, in the municipality of Piracicaba, in an area containing fruit trees, ornamental plants and a fragment of a native forest. The objective was to identify protein sources used by honeybees (Apis mellifera) over a whole year (2010-2011) in remnants of the Atlantic forest, information that can be used in the conservation and restoration of degraded areas. For sample preparation, the acetolysis method was adopted (Eredtman 1952) and the quantitative analysis was performed by counting successive samples of 900 grains per sample which were grouped by botanical species and/or pollen types. The results show that the bees used various plant types in the area, including ruderal species, to maintain their colonies. Apis mellifera seeks food sources in all plants in the surroundings of the apiary, including herbaceous, shrubs, trees, native or introduced. Eucalyptus sp. played an important role as a food source in all seasons due to its wide availability around the apiary and its high flower production. The most frequent pollen types (greater than 10% of the sample) were Anadenanthera sp., Acacia sp, Miconia sp. and Eucalyptus sp. in winter; Philodendron sp., Mikania cordifolia, Parthenium and Eucalyptus sp. in spring; Alternanthera ficoidea, Chamissoa altissima and Eucalyptus sp. in summer; Philodendron sp., Raphanus sp. and Eucalyptus sp. in autumn.FAPESPFAPESPCAPESCAPE

Influence of data transformations on estimation of variance components

Os modelos aleatórios têm sido usados com muita frequência no melhoramento genético (coeficiente de herdabilidade, índice de seleção, etc). Em geral, o uso de tais modelos leva a estimar os componentes de variancia, cujos métodos são bastante discutidos na literatura. O problema surge quando não se pode supor uma distribuição normal dos dados. Neste caso, recomenda-se o uso de transformações que normalizem esses dados (ou pelo menos que se obtenha uma distribuição simétrica dos mesmos) e se tenha homogeneidade de variâncias. Essas transformações têm sido indicadas por vários autores, dependendo da distribuição dos dados. Assim, utilizando-se a proporção de variação explicada e feita uma simulação de um modelo inteiramente ao acaso com dados balanceados, analisou-se o efeito da transformação sobre as estimativas de componentes de variância para os efeitos de tratamentos e resíduo supondo distribuição Binomial e Poisson. O método utilizado para a estimação dos componentes de variância foi de Máxima Verossimilhança Restrita e para gerar os dados usaram-se as subrotinas do Sistema SAS. Verificou-se que, as proporções de variações explicadas não inferiram muito na presença de transformações, confirmando as indicações da literatura de que para se estimarem os componentes de variância, não e necessário que os dados sigam uma distribuição normal.Models with random effects are been used intensively in researches for genetic breeding (genetic parameters). Usually, application of these models is done to get estimation of variance components, although the methods used in these estimations are get largely discussed in the literature. The problem arises when data are not normally distributed. In this case, it is suggested the use of the data transformation that normalizes these data (or at least one which give symmetric distribution of these data) and get the homogeneous variance. These transformations are being indicated by several authors considering the data distributions. Thus, the use of a proportion accounted for the explained variance and by simulation in a model for a completely randomized design it was analysed the effect of the data transformation on the estimation of variance components for treatment effects and it was supposed that data follow the Binomial and Poisson distributions. The method used for estimation of variance components was the Restricted Maximum Likelihood and to get these data it was utilized the subroutines of SAS system. It was verified that the proportion of explained variances demonstrated no great differences when the data were transformed, and it was confirmed the literature indication that for variance components estimation it is not necessary the normal distribution of the data

Influence of data transformations on estimation of variance components

Os modelos aleatórios têm sido usados com muita frequência no melhoramento genético (coeficiente de herdabilidade, índice de seleção, etc). Em geral, o uso de tais modelos leva a estimar os componentes de variancia, cujos métodos são bastante discutidos na literatura. O problema surge quando não se pode supor uma distribuição normal dos dados. Neste caso, recomenda-se o uso de transformações que normalizem esses dados (ou pelo menos que se obtenha uma distribuição simétrica dos mesmos) e se tenha homogeneidade de variâncias. Essas transformações têm sido indicadas por vários autores, dependendo da distribuição dos dados. Assim, utilizando-se a proporção de variação explicada e feita uma simulação de um modelo inteiramente ao acaso com dados balanceados, analisou-se o efeito da transformação sobre as estimativas de componentes de variância para os efeitos de tratamentos e resíduo supondo distribuição Binomial e Poisson. O método utilizado para a estimação dos componentes de variância foi de Máxima Verossimilhança Restrita e para gerar os dados usaram-se as subrotinas do Sistema SAS. Verificou-se que, as proporções de variações explicadas não inferiram muito na presença de transformações, confirmando as indicações da literatura de que para se estimarem os componentes de variância, não e necessário que os dados sigam uma distribuição normal.Models with random effects are been used intensively in researches for genetic breeding (genetic parameters). Usually, application of these models is done to get estimation of variance components, although the methods used in these estimations are get largely discussed in the literature. The problem arises when data are not normally distributed. In this case, it is suggested the use of the data transformation that normalizes these data (or at least one which give symmetric distribution of these data) and get the homogeneous variance. These transformations are being indicated by several authors considering the data distributions. Thus, the use of a proportion accounted for the explained variance and by simulation in a model for a completely randomized design it was analysed the effect of the data transformation on the estimation of variance components for treatment effects and it was supposed that data follow the Binomial and Poisson distributions. The method used for estimation of variance components was the Restricted Maximum Likelihood and to get these data it was utilized the subroutines of SAS system. It was verified that the proportion of explained variances demonstrated no great differences when the data were transformed, and it was confirmed the literature indication that for variance components estimation it is not necessary the normal distribution of the data

Estudo de cultivares de amoreira e de técnicas de manejo alimentar no desempenho do bicho-da-seda (Bombyx mori L.)

Dois experimentos foram conduzidos na Unidade de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Gália-SP, nos anos de 2001 e 2002, em ambientes distintos, com objetivo de avaliar o desempenho biológico e produtivo do bicho-da-seda, em quinto ínstar, quando alimentado com dois cultivares de amoreira (IZ 13/6 e IZ 40), fornecidos em duas formas de ramos (inteiros e picados) e em diferentes frequências dos tratos (1o experimento: dois, quatro e seis tratos diários; 2o experimento: dois, três, quatro e cinco tratos diários). O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 2x2x3 (1o experimento) e 2x2x4 (2o experimento), com quatro repetições. O cultivar IZ 40 foi o menos consumido e proporcionou bom desempenho biológico e produtivo para o bicho-da-seda. Em condições de ambiente controlado, utilizando-se ramos inteiros de amoreira e dois tratos diários, observou-se bom desempenho do bicho-da-seda