Palynological analysis of Brazilian geopropolis sediments

Abstract

The sediments of 10 samples of geopropolis collected from 3 species of Meliponinae in the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais and Sã o Paulo, Brazil, and obtained after chemical treatment, were analysed. Pollen grains, hyphae and spores of fungi, organic material and burned plant fragments were observed in the majority of samples. Sandy or earth materials was present in all geopropolis sediments. Pollen analysis identified the dominant, accessory and isolated plant taxa occurring in the areas of geopropolis sample recovery. The most important pollen types found were Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) in samples from the state of Sã o Paulo only, Schinus (Anacardiaceae) mainly in samples from the state of Minas Gerais and Myrcia (Myrtaceae) in every state. Two samples were devoid of pollen grains. Only one sample contained plant trichomes and was considered a propolis sample of Apis bees. Compared to propolis samples examined previously, the geopropolis pollen spectra reflect the characteristic regional vegetation and also a higher variability of plant species visited by the Meliponinae. It is established that geopropolis samples can be distinguished from propolis samples by light microscope analysis of sediments. Mineral and soil constituents, as well as the lack of trichomes, are characteristic only of geopropolis.

Própolis marrom da vertente atlântica do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: uma avaliação palinológica

“…Barth (1998) e Barth et al (1999) também observaram a presença de Eucalyptus como pólen dominante em duas outras amostras de própolis do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, bem como Barth & Luz (2003) para amostras de geoprópolis deste Estado. Os dados indicam que os locais de coleta das amostras de própolis apresentavam arborização com essas espécies exóticas.…”

“…Barth et al (1999) e Barth & Luz (2003) citam que nas amostras do Rio de Janeiro este tipo polínico é muitas vezes originário de arbustos lenhosos que ocorrem preferencialmente em locais abertos, alagados ou úmidos, sendo uma importante fonte de recursos poliníferos para as abelhas.…”

“…Foi observada em amostras de própolis a presença de epiderme com seus anexos como estômatos, pêlos vegetais (tricomas) e glândulas, por alguns autores como Warakomska & Maciejewicz (1992), Barth (1998), Bastos (2001) e Montenegro et al (2000Montenegro et al ( , 2001. Distingue-se de produto semelhante elaborado pelas abelhas nativas sem ferrão, denominado geoprópolis (Nogueira Neto 1997, Barth & Luz 2003, Barth 2006) o qual não contém tricomas, mas sedimento de terra ou barro usado na sua elaboração (Barth 1998, Barth et al 1999.…”

Melissopalynology in Brazil: a review of pollen analysis of honeys, propolis and pollen loads of bees

“…Absy & Kerr (1977) observed that the Meliponinae, collected not only pollen grains but also resin, clay and, in separate loads, the latex of fruits of Vismia, for geopropolis confection. The presence of silica and clay and the absence of trichomes was used, besides pollen grains, to differentiate geopropolis of Meliponinae from propolis of Apis (Barth & Luz, 2003).…”

Pollen types and levels of total phenolic compounds in propolis produced by Apis mellifera L. (Apidae) in an area of the Semiarid Region of Bahia, Brazil

“…The best known propolis is that produced by the bee Apis mellifera L (Apidae). The function of this product is protective, acting as a thermal insulator and preventing intruders from entering the hive (Barth and Luz 2003, Park et al 2005, Freitas et al 2010.…”