Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Pollination as an Ecological Method to Increase the Quality of Lavender Essential Oil

The essential oil of lavender is important worldwide. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of pollination by honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) as an ecological method to increase the quality of the essential oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.). Fifteen components were determined in the essential oil samples tested and included in this study. Three groups of organic compounds were found: Terpenes, Terpenoids and Ketones. The percentages of the major chemical components in the essential oil of bee-pollinated lavender plants are: linalool - 30.7%, linalyl acetate - 30.3%, lavandulyl acetate - 5.2% and terpinen 4-ol - 6.5%, whereas these results from unpollinated lavender plants are as follows: linalool - 25.5%, linalyl acetate - 27.6%, lavandulyl acetate - 4.4% and terpinen 4-ol - 5.5%. Importantly, statistically significant differences were found when comparing the results of these essential oil components. It was found that the essential oil of the pollinated plants contained more than 5% linalool and almost 3% more linalyl acetate. These two ingredients were the most important components of lavender essential oil. The experimental study showed a higher content in the essential oil of the pollinated lavender plants for nine of the fifteen components examined

The Impact of Honey Bee Pollination othe Amount of Essential Oils

The objective of this research was to study the impact of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) pollination as an agricultural method for increasing the essential oil quantity. The quantity of essential oil in pollinated and unpollinated Melissa officinalis L., Mentha piperita L., Origanum heracleoticum L., Salvia officinalis L. and Thymus serpyllum L. plants was studied and significant differences were observed. Blossoms and stems from twenty pollinated and twenty unpollinated plants were used during mass blooming in a modified Clevenger apparatus for two-hour distillation under 100 °C. The statistical analysis proved that there was a larger quantity of essential oil in plants pollinated by honey bees than in unpollinated plants. The increase of essential oil from M. officinalis was 42.32%; from M. piperita was 24.96%; from O. heracleoticum was 18.91%; from S. officinalis was 23.90% and from T. serpyllum was 35.52%. The most visited plants per m2, during their blooming belonged to T. serpyllum and the least visited plants during their blooming belonged to M. officinalis. According to pollination intensity S. officinalis and M. officinalis flowers were the least visited, while M. piperita flowers were the most visited

Η σημασία της περιεκτικότητας πρωτεϊνών της γύρης στην ανάπτυξη, αναπαραγωγή και παραγωγικότητα των μελισσών (Apis mellifera L.)

ABSTRACTThe impact of the protein content of pollen on the development, reproduction and productivity of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) was the subject of this research. The pollen was collected from five bee colonies using inside pollen-traps every second day, 10% of the collected pollen was separated according to colour, shape and structure so as to identify the visited plants, the rest of the pollen was mixed. Of the mixed and the separated pollen, a chemical analysis for protein and water content was conducted. The protein and other constitutes in pollen are the basic chemical composition, and their determination is useful for the establishment of its impact on the bee colonies. Every month the bee colonies were inspected and recorded the amount of brood, the population, the colony hygiene and the honey and pollen stored. Pollen from various botanical species has different protein content for the honey bee and that affects the growth and the productivity of the bee colony. In this study the protein content in 35 mixed and 50 separated pollen samples from selected botanical origins were analyzed. The protein content ranged from 11.5% (Chondrilla juncea) to 27.4% (Cucumis melo), the average was 19.9%. The proteins of mixed pollen in different periods of the year ranged from 13.9% to 27.8% and the average was 21%. Differences in the crude protein content were noticed between the anemophilоes and the entomophiloes species, among different species of plants of the same family. Honey bees prefer to collect most of their pollen, from introduced agricultural plants when are in bloom. The honey bee preferences for pollen also depended on the distribution of the honey flora. The reproduction, development and productivity of the bee colonies are high, when the honey bees collect pollen with protein content over 20%. The higher the protein content is, the higher the above-mentioned factors are. During spring, pollen with protein content above 21%, and especially above 27% allows colonies to maintain a high level of reproduction and development. If there is pollen with high protein content during autumn, then colonies develop faster early in the spring the following year. When protein content is reduced, the reproduction and the development of bee colonies are also reduced. The productivity is also decreasing when protein content is reduced. The water content in the analyzed samples from the selected botanical origins ranged between 9.7% (Centaurea calcitrapa) to 23.1% (Crepis sp.) with the average of 17.4%. The water content in the mixed pollen for different periods ranged between 12.3% to 26.6% and the average was 18.8%. The water content in the pollen is affected mostly by the humidity of the environment. The determination of water in the pollen samples was necessary to report the protein content.The record of pollen flora and the collection of pollen samples were achieved by using botom board pollen traps, located in Belozem (Bulgaria). The analysis of the important honey plants of the study area includes 113 species of honey plants from 101 genera and 46 families. That indicates a relatively high number and varieties of honey plants having different protein content of pollen, and gives a favorable affect on the bee organism. The most important 50 species were analyzed for protein and water content. The highest collection of pollen was found in spring and early summer, when the honey bees rear a great amount of brood.ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗΗ επίδραση της περιεκτικότητα πρωτεϊνών της γύρης στην ανάπτυξη, την αναπαραγωγή και την παραγωγικότητα των μελισσών (Apis mellifera L.), ήταν το αντικείμενο της παρούσας έρευνας. Η γύρη συλλέχθηκε από πέντε μελίσσια χρησιμοποιώντας εσωτερικές γυρεοπαγίδες πυθμένα κάθε δεύτερη ημέρα, όπου το 10% της συλλεγόμενης γύρης διαχωρίστηκε ανάλογα με το χρώμα, το σχήμα και τη μορφή, ώστε να προσδιοριστούν τα φυτά που επισκέπτονται οι μέλισσες, ενώ το υπόλοιπο της γύρης αναμίχθηκε. Πραγματοποιήθηκε χημική ανάλυση πρωτεϊνών και μέτρηση υγρασίας στην ξεχωρισμένη και στην ανάμικτη γύρη. Η περιεκτικότητα σε πρωτεΐνες στη γύρη αποτελεί το βασικό συστατικό της χημικής σύνθεσής της, και ο προσδιορισμός της είναι ιδιαίτερα χρήσιμος στη διερεύνηση της επίδρασής της στα μελίσσια. Κάθε μήνα τα μελίσσια επιθεωρούνταν και καταγραφόταν η έκταση του γόνου, ο πληθυσμός, η κατάσταση υγείας των μελισσιών και η αποθηκευμένη ποσότητα μελιού και γύρης. Η γύρη από διάφορα βοτανικά είδη έχει διαφορετική περιεκτικότητα πρωτεϊνών για τις μέλισσες και επηρεάζει την ανάπτυξη και την παραγωγικότητα των μελισσιών. Στη μελέτη αυτή, αναλύθηκε η περιεκτικότητα σε πρωτεΐνες 35 δειγμάτων ανάμικτης και 50 αμιγούς γύρης. Η περιεκτικότητα σε πρωτεΐνες κυμαινόταν από 11,5% (Chondrilla juncea) έως 27,4% (Cucumis melo), ο μέσος όρος ήταν 19,9%. Η περιεκτικότητα σε πρωτεΐνες των δειγμάτων ανάμικτης γύρης σε διαφορετικές περιόδους του έτους, κυμάνθηκε από 13,9% έως 27,8% και ο μέσος όρος ήταν 21%. Οι διαφορές στο πρωτεϊνικό περιεχόμενο παρατηρήθηκαν μεταξύ των ανεμόφιλων και εντομόφιλων ειδών, μεταξύ διαφορετικών ειδών φυτών της ίδιας οικογένειας. Οι προτιμήσεις των μελισσών στη γύρη εξαρτώνται επίσης από την κατανομή της μελισσοκομικής χλωρίδας, την έκταση των μελισσοκομικών φυτών και τη διάρκεια ανθοφορίας τους.Η αναπαραγωγή, η ανάπτυξη και η παραγωγικότητα των μελισσιών είναι υψηλές, όταν οι μέλισσες συλλέγουν γύρη με περιεκτικότητα σε πρωτεΐνη πάνω από 20%. Όσο υψηλή είναι η περιεκτικότητα πρωτεϊνών, τόσο υψηλοί είναι και οι προαναφερθέντες παράγοντες. Κατά τη διάρκεια της άνοιξης, η γύρη με περιεκτικότητα σε πρωτεΐνη πάνω από 21%, και ιδιαίτερα πάνω από 27%, επιτρέπει στα μελίσσια να διατηρήσουν ένα υψηλό επίπεδο αναπαραγωγής και ανάπτυξης. Εάν υπάρχει γύρη με υψηλή περιεκτικότητα σε πρωτεΐνη κατά τη διάρκεια του φθινοπώρου, τα μελίσσια αναπτύσσονται με ταχύτερους ρυθμούς και στις αρχές της άνοιξης του επόμενου έτους. Όταν η περιεκτικότητα σε πρωτεΐνη είναι χαμηλή, η αναπαραγωγή και η ανάπτυξη των μελισσιών είναι επίσης περιορισμένες.Η περιεκτικότητα υγρασίας στα αμιγή δείγματα γύρης που αναλύθηκαν κυμάνθηκε μεταξύ 9,7% (Centaurea calcitrapa) έως 23,1% (Crepis sp.) και ο μέσος όρος ήταν 17,4%. Η υγρασία στα δείγματα ανάμικτης γύρης από διαφοετικές περιόδους κυμάνθηκε μεταξύ 12,3% έως 26,6% και ο μέσος όρος ήταν 18,8%. Η περιεκτικότητα της γύρης σε υγρασία επηρεάζεται κυρίως από την υγρασία του περιβάλλοντος. Ο προσδιορισμός της υγρασίας στα δείγματα γύρης δίνει τη δυνατότητα να εκφραστούν τα αποτελέσματα επί ξηρού.Η καταγραφή των γυρεοδοτικών φυτών και η συλλογή των δειγμάτων γύρης πραγματοποιήθηκε με τη χρήση γυρεοπαγίδων, που τοποθετήθηκαν σε κυψέλες που βρίσκονται στο Belozem (Βουλγαρία). Η ανάλυση των κυριότερων μελισσοκομικών φυτών της περιοχής μελέτης περιλαμβάνει 113 είδη από 101 γένη και 46 οικογένειες. Αυτό δείχνει ένα σχετικά μεγάλο αριθμό και ποικιλίες μελισσοκομικών φυτών που έχουν διαφορετική περιεκτικότητα πρωτεϊνών γύρης και επιδρούν στην ανάπτυξη των μελισσών. Τα σημαντικότερα 50 είδη αναλύθηκαν για την περιεκτικότητα σε πρωτεΐνη και νερό. Η υψηλότερη συγκέντρωση γύρης βρέθηκε την άνοιξη και νωρίς το καλοκαίρι, όταν η εκτροφή του γόνου είναι εντατική

Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Study in the Bulgarian Rhodopes Mountains—Part _I

Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses has been well documented in Bulgaria in the past. However, we know little about the contemporary traditional application of medicinal plants. Rhodopes Mountain is an ethnobotanically poorly studied region. This region is suitable for conducting field research in ethnobotany for several reasons: (i) our preliminary observation in a number of settlements revealed that the local population, in particular, relies solely on previously collected medicinal plants in winter months even in modern times; (ii) due to the relative isolation of the area, considerable authenticity of traditional methods of medicinal plant use is retained there. The aim of this study is ethnopharmacological and ethnobotanical research among the population of the Rhodopes to evaluate the contemporary use of medicinal plants. The field ethnobotanical data were collected through the in-depth method in combination with a semi-structured face-to-face interviews, adapted with modifications to the objectives of this study. The quantitative ethnobotanical index Use Value (UV) was calculated. Here we suggested a new approach in ethnobotanical research. We used nomograms to present a large volume of medicinal plants’ application data, classified by the degree of their UV. This allows for a much broader view of collected and processed data. Data analyses from our filed research showed that the 92 informants mentioned utilization of a total of 114 plant species belonging to 52 families and 110 genera. The most common plants were from the families Asteraceae (16.7%), Lamiaceae (12.3%), Rosaceae (9.6%) and Amrillydaceae (3.5%), followed by Crassulaceae, Plantaginacea, Oleaceae and Solanaceae. The data presented in six nomograms revealed the most popular plants, the way of application and the corresponding medical indications in the Central and East Rhodopes, and the differences between the two sub-regions. Sempervivum tectorum, Tussilago farfara and Plantago major are the most often reported plants in the Central Rhodopes while these are Cotinus coggygria, Prunus spinosa and Teucrium polium in the East Rhodopes. The results of the study show that in the Rhodopes, the contemporary application of traditional medicinal plants is pretty much vivid. The locals in the Rhodopes still use the traditional knowledge and rely on plants to treat various health problems. They use common plants in a sustainable manner and are open to the cultivation of Sideritis scardica—a species which became rare after overexploitation

Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Study in the Bulgarian Mountain Rhodopes: Part II—Contemporary Use of Medicinal Plants

Rhodopes Mountain is ethnobotanically poorly studied, but our preliminary observation in a number of settlements revealed that even nowadays, the local population relies solely on previously collected medicinal plants. We aimed to assess the contemporary use of medicinal plants in the Central and East Rhodopes and the health conditions that local communities address with them. The ethnobotanical field data were collected through an in-depth method in combination with semi-structured face-to-face interviews, adapted with modifications to the objectives of this study. The following quantitative ethnobotanical indices were used in this study: informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), and Jaccard similarity coefficient or Jaccard index (JI). Data analyses from our field research showed that 92 informants mentioned the utilization of a total of 114 plant species. The results of this study reveal that in both regions of the Rhodopes, medicinal plants are mentioned most often in relation to diseases affecting nervous, respiratory, digestive, and cardiovascular systems, followed by reproductive, urinary, immune, and musculoskeletal. The risk of disruption or loss of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is expected in the condition of cultural globalization. However, there is no metrified data about the use of medicinal plants in the Rhodopes from the past. The application of statistical indices in this research will make such assessment and monitoring possible in the future