Physicochemical characteristics and pollen spectra of organic and non-organic honey samples of Apis mellifera L.

Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyze and compare 17 honey samples, 11 organic and six non-organic Apis mellifera honey. The samples were analyzed concerning moisture, hydroxymethylfurfural, diastase index, water activity, color, total sugar, reducing sugar, sucrose, ash, viscosity, electrical conductivity, pH, acidity, and formol index. With the exception of acidity, reducing sugar and diastase index, the averages of other parameters were different between the two groups. All samples of organic honey presented moisture values between 23.50 and 24.40%. Among the nonorganic honey samples, two presented apparent sucrose amount upper the maximum limit established by the Brazilian Legislation. According to the quantitative analysis of pollen sediments in the honey samples and frequency of pollen types in 17 honey samples, 41.20% were classified as unifloral, and the remainder as polifloral.

Melliferous flora and pollen characterization of honey samples of Apis mellifera L., 1758 in apiaries in the counties of Ubiratã and Nova Aurora, PR

“…Luz et al (2007) reported the predominance of pollen types of Arecaceae, Asteraceae, Mimosaceae and Myrtaceae in honey samples of Rio de Janeiro State. Euphorbiaceae and Myrtaceae were also found as dominant or accessory pollen types in organic honey samples collected in islands located in the frontier of Paraná, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul states, and Mimosaceae, Myrtaceae and Solanaceae in nonorganic honey samples (Sereia et al 2011).…”

Implementation of a geographic information system (GIS) for the planning of beekeeping in the west region of Paraná

“…From 34 exotic species collected in the area of study, seven were classified as exotic invader species, among them the leucena (L. leucocephala) and grape-Japan (H. dulcis), however among the exotics, only the L. leucocephala, Ricinus communis (mamona) and Melia azedarach (santa-bárbara) were representative in the pollen spectrum of the honey collected in the region. Sereia et al (2011) analyzed and compared 17 honey samples, 11 organic and six non-organic A. mellifera honey, harvested in islands of the triple border (among west of Paraná, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul States) and from northeast of the state of Paraná. In organic honey, 63.60% of the samples were classified as multifloral, and 36.4% as unifloral (Euphorbiaceae).…”

Pollen analysis of honey samples produced in the counties of Santa Helena and Terra Roxa, western Region of Paraná, Southern Brazil

“…However, this index also reflecting the peculiar vegetal cover of each county, also observed in Figure 3, that some botanical species were of great importance for the constitution of honey sampled in each county: pollen type H. dulcis (grape from Japan) and type pollen G. max (soybean), presents (95% and 100%) and dominants pollen (40% and 35%), considered monofloral honey, in the samples of Santa Helena and Terra Roxa, respectively. Sereia et al (2011) evaluated 11 samples of organic and six nonorganic honey from the region of the state between the states of Mato Grosso, São Paulo and Paraná and classified them as 41.20% of monofloral origin and the remainder polyfloral.…”