Characterization of some southern Brazilian honey and bee plants through pollen analysis
Author(s)
M Ramalho; L S Guibu; T C Giannini; A Kleinert-Giovannini; V L Imperatriz-Fonseca
Abstract
Over a period of three years, 256 samples of honey from the states of Sao Paulo and Parana, southern Brazil, were characterized by pollen analysis. The honeys were classified as Eucalyptus (54 samples), Citrus (49) and wild honey (153) according to information provided by beekeepers. Pollen types were compared with reference slides of pollens from plants flowering in the area. Pollens found in Sao Paulo honey included Paspalum, Cecropia, Syagrus and Citrus, whereas pollens of llex, Campomanesia, Allophylus and Matayba predominated in Parana honey. The importance of some species, whose pollens may be under-represented in honey, as bee forage plants is discussed.
Keywords
pollen analysis, melissopalynology, honey, honey bee forage, nectar plants, Brazil
