Melittopalynological studies of Apis dorsata honey samples from Kolar District, Karnataka, India

Honeybees, while foraging for nectar on flowers, also gather some pollen which retains in the honey even after extraction. Pollen grains are the essential tools in the analysis of honey. The aim of the present report was to find the Apis dorsata honey floral resources in Kolar district state Karnataka. In the present study, the pollen content of 28 A. dorsata honey samples were collected from 5 different locations of Kolar district, Karnataka, India. Samples were subjected to Melittopalynological studies to identify their honey plant resources and colour, optic density and collection places were documented. A wide variety of pollen types represent their plant sources and their frequency classes were recognized in each honey sample. Among 28 honey samples analysed, 10 samples were identified as multifloral, 18 unifloral with predominant pollen types such as Syzygium cumini, Pongamia pinnata, Eucalyptus sp, Guizotia abyssinica, Psidium guajava and Coriandrum sativum, each count was found above 45%. Pollen spectra indicated a total of 56 pollen types belonging to 27 plant families. Fabaceae was represented as the largest family with 14 species contributing honey production. Among the habit, tree was dominant with 51.78%, followed by herbs (32.14%) and shrubs (16.07%). The economic importance of identified plants with apiculture importance was categorized as medicinal, ornamental, vegetable, timber and oil yielding, weeds, fruits and nuts. A. dorsata depends on wild trees and cultivated plants bloom throughout the year as pollen and nectar source. From the results, it is evident that there is a lot of potential in establishing beekeeping industries in the study area.

Download Full-text

The melissopalynological investigation in the Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka, India

10.1101/2020.07.06.189274 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

D. Shishira ◽

A. R. Uthappa ◽

Veeresh Kumar ◽

Shringeshwara ◽

G. C. Kuberappa

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Moringa Oleifera ◽

Cocos Nucifera ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Psidium Guajava ◽

Pongamia Pinnata ◽

Floral Resources ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Areca Catechu ◽

Dry Zone

AbstractMelissopalynology, the analysis of pollen grains present in honey, indicates about the pollen and nectar sources in a region utilized by bees, which is used to determine the bee floral resources and botanical origin of the honey. This study investigated the melissopalynological analysis of the honey samples from the Eastern Dry zone of Karnataka. 24 honey samples were examined based on pollen analyses, among them 14 samples were unifloral, rest were multifloral. The unifloral honey had pollens of Callistemon viminalis, Areca catechu, Citrus sp., Mallotus philippensis, Cocos nucifera, Eucalyptus sp., Ocimum sp., Moringa oleifera and Pongamia pinnata. Samples collected in October, November, December, and January were rich in pollens of Eucalyptus sp.. Similarly, samples collected in January, February and March had pollen of tree species viz., Swietenia mahagoni, Canthium parviflorum, Simarouba glauca, Eucalyptus sp., Moringa oleifera, Syzygium cumini, Tabebuia sp., Pongamia pinnata, Acanthaceae, Anacardium occidentale, Cocos nucifera, Areca catechu, Mallotus philippensis, Bauhinia variegata, Psidium guajava, Alangiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Ulmaceae, Capparis zeylanica, Convolvulaceae. GKVK-11 followed by GKVK-12 sample recorded the highest Shannon diversity and GKVK-9 followed by GKVK-7 sample recorded the least diversity. Based on the similar floral composition samples were classified into four clusters. The PCA revealed that most of the samples grouped into a single cluster, except 7, 19, 20, 21, and 22 which were placed away from the origin. The presence of pollen in the honey of a particular plant species during different months is related to the blooming of that particular plant species from which the bees forage. The flora of honey changes with the season. The diversity of pollen grains in honey varied with location to location. The present study provides scientific knowledge to the beekeepers by indicating important plants for the development of the regional apiculture, through the identification of pollen types.

Download Full-text

Melissopalynology Reveals the Foraging Preferences of the Stingless Bee Melipona seminigra pernigra Moure & Kerr 1950 (Apidae: Meliponini) in Cangas of Serra dos Carajás, Southeastern Amazonia

10.20944/preprints201910.0134.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

José Tasso Felix Guimarães ◽

Luciano Costa ◽

Daniela Cristina Zappi ◽

Wilson Filgueira Batista Junior ◽

Karen da Silva Lopes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pollen Grains ◽

Floral Resources ◽

Campo Rupestre ◽

Foraging Preferences ◽

Disturbed Areas ◽

Pollen Content ◽

Degraded Area ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Local Variability

The pollen content of honey samples collected in the years 2017 and 2019 from experimental apiaries of Melipona seminigra pernigra Moure & Kerr 1950 installed in campo rupestre on canga (CRC) vegetation of the Serra dos Carajás, southeastern Amazonia, was analyzed to understand the local variability of floral resources occurring on natural and disturbed areas. Around one hundred pollen types were identified mainly belonging to Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Euphorbiaceae (31, 6 and 5 types, respectively). The N5 mine presented the highest pollen richness with 95 pollen types identified, almost twice of those identified in the other areas, including the better preserved ones. Eighty percent of the pollen types are rare with concentrations ≤ 2,000 pollen grains/10 g; the remaining types are the most abundant and frequent, and are considered the primary bee sources (PBS). PBS correspond mostly to native plants such as Tapirira guianensis Aubl., Protium spp., Aparisthmium cordatum (A.Juss.) Baill., Mimosa acutistipula var. ferrea Barneby, Periandra mediterrânea (Vell.) Taub., Miconia spp., Pleroma carajasense K.Rocha, Myrcia splendens (Sw.) DC., Serjania spp. and Solanum crinitum Lam. All pollen types were identified during both seasons, but higher pollen concentration are related to the dry period (June-September). The statistical analysis indicated that there was no significant difference in honey pollen data between the natural and disturbed areas since the plant species considered as PBS in this work are intensively used in revegetation of degraded area (RDA) processes by mining activities.

Download Full-text

Bee Life in the City: an Analysis of the Pollen Provisions of Centris (Centris) flavifrons (Centridini) in an Urban Area

Sociobiology ◽

10.13102/sociobiology.v64i2.1277 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 166 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Marcos Costa Dorea ◽

Francisco De Assis Ribeiro dos Santos ◽

Cândida Maria Lima Aguiar ◽

Celso Feitosa Martins

Keyword(s):

Urban Area ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Floral Resources ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Dietary Knowledge ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Breeding Seasons ◽

Near Future

Due to deforestation and fragmentation of ecosystems, the management of bee populations targeting pollination services is increasingly urgent. Because urban environments are stressful, the dietary knowledge in such areas can help to cope with this issue in the near future. Using palynological analysis the floral resources used by Centris flavifrons, an important pollinator of crops and native plants was studied in an urban area. Byrsonima sericea type, Solanum paniculatum type, Cestrum type, and Myrcia type 1 together accounted for more than 93% of pollen grains foraged by females. It is noteworthy that this bee population depends on few plant species both for pollen and for oil. Furthermore, females showed flexibility to replace the primary pollen source in different breeding seasons, as well as one female could provision different cells in the same nest with different predominant pollen types. It is highlighted the importance of wastelands for keeping bee populations in urban areas.

Download Full-text

Pollen Taphonomy in a Canyon Stream

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/0033-5894(87)90006-8 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 393-406 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Patricia L. Fall

Keyword(s):

Surface Soil ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Close Correlation ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Alluvial Deposits ◽

Modern Pollen ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Pollen Rain ◽

Arid Steppe ◽

Turbulent Water

AbstractSurface soil samples from the forested Chuska Mountains to the arid steppe of the Chinle Valley, Northeastern Arizona, show close correlation between modern pollen rain and vegetation. In contrast, modern alluvium is dominated by Pinus pollen throughout the canyon; it reflects neither the surrounding floodplain nor plateau vegetation. Pollen in surface soils is deposited by wind; pollen grains in alluvium are deposited by a stream as sedimentary particles. Clay-size particles correlate significantly with Pinus, Quercus, and Populus pollen. These pollen types settle, as clay does, in slack water. Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthus, Artemisia, other Tubuliflorae, and indeterminate pollen types correlate with sand-size particles, and are deposited by more turbulent water. Fluctuating pollen frequencies in alluvial deposits are related to sedimentology and do not reflect the local or regional vegetation where the sediments were deposited. Alluvial pollen is unreliable for reconstruction of paleoenvironments.

Download Full-text

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

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ◽

10.1590/s0001-37652013005000017 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 85 (1) ◽

pp. 307-326 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

ELIZABETE S. SEKINE ◽

VAGNER A.A. TOLEDO ◽

MARCELO G. CAXAMBU ◽

SUZANE CHMURA ◽

ELIZA H. TAKASHIBA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Glycine Max ◽

Apis Mellifera ◽

Native Species ◽

Ricinus Communis ◽

Cultivated Plants ◽

Melia Azedarach ◽

Native Vegetation ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Pollen Analyses

The aim of this study was to carry out a survey of the flora with potential for beekeeping in the counties of Ubiratã and Nova Aurora-PR through the collection of plants and pollen analyses in honey samples collected monthly. 208 species of plants were recorded, distributed in 66 families. The families that showed the major richness of pollen types were: Asteraceae, Myrtaceae and Solanaceae. Approximately 80 pollen types were found in honey samples, most of them were characterized as heterofloral. Cultivated plants, such as Glycine max (soybean) and Eucalyptus spp., were representative in some months of the year. Exotic species, such as Ricinus communis and Melia azedarach, were also frequent. However, over than 50% of the pollen types belong to native species of the region, such as Schinus terebinthifolius, Baccharis spp. Alchornea triplinervia, Parapiptadenia rigida, Hexaclamys edulis, Zanthoxylum sp. and Serjania spp., indicating the importance of the native vegetation for the survival of the colonies.

Download Full-text

Airborne pollen observations using a multi-wavelength Raman polarization lidar in Finland: characterization of pure pollen types

10.5194/acp-2020-794 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaoxia Shang ◽

Elina Giannakaki ◽

Stephanie Bohlmann ◽

Maria Filioglou ◽

Annika Saarto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optical Properties ◽

Airborne Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Wavelength Dependence ◽

Depolarization Ratio ◽

Mean Values ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Pine Pollen ◽

Significant Wavelength ◽

532 Nm

Abstract. We present a novel algorithm for characterizing the optical properties of pure pollen particles, based on the depolarization values obtained in lidar measurements. The algorithm was first tested and validated through a simulator, and then applied to the lidar observations during a four-month pollen campaign from May to August 2016 at the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) station in Kuopio (62°44′ N, 27°33′ E), in Eastern Finland. Twenty types of pollen were observed and identified from concurrent measurements with Burkard sampler; Birch (Betula), pine (Pinus), spruce (Picea) and nettle (Urtica) pollen were most abundant, contributing more than 90 % of total pollen load, regarding number concentrations. Mean values of lidar-derived optical properties in the pollen layer were retrieved for four intense pollination periods (IPPs). Lidar ratios at both 355 and 532 nm ranged from 55 to 70 sr for all pollen types, without significant wavelength-dependence. Enhanced depolarization ratio was found when there were pollen grains in the atmosphere, and even higher depolarization ratio (with mean values of 25 % or 14 %) was observed with presence of the more non-spherical spruce or pine pollen. The depolarization ratio at 532 nm of pure pollen particles was assessed, resulting to 24 ± 3 % and 36 ± 5 % for birch and pine pollen, respectively. Pollen optical properties at 1064 nm and 355 nm were also estimated. The backscatter-related Ångström exponent between 532 and 1064 nm was assessed as ~ 0.8 (~ 0.5) for pure birch (pine) pollen, thus the longer wavelength would be better choice to trace pollen in the air. The pollen depolarization ratio at 355 nm of 17 % and 30 % were found for birch and pine pollen, respectively. The depolarization values show a wavelength dependence for pollen. This can be the key parameter for pollen detection and characterization.

Download Full-text

A study on the pollen morphology of the genus Combretum Loefl. and its taxonomic significance

South Asian Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.38150/sajeb.6(4).p131-142 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 131-142

Author(s):

Gamal E. B. E.B. El Ghazali

Keyword(s):

Pollen Grains ◽

Polar View ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Molecular Classification ◽

Ecological Indicator ◽

Wide Range ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Specific Variation ◽

Palynological Study

Pollen grains of 92 species (from 99 collections) belonging to the genus Com-bretum (Combretaceae) were examined by Light Microscope (LM) and Scan-ning Electron Microscope (SEM). These species are representatives of vari-ous taxa outlined in the latest taxonomic revision of the genus. The genus belongs to a tropical or subtropical family, frequently encountered in various Quaternary deposits and acts as ecological indicator in various habitats. Pol-len grains of all members of the genus Combretum examined are hetero-colpate (with three simple apertures alternating with three composite ones) and exhibited wide range of inter-specific variation with respect to polar axes (P), Equatorial diameters (E), P/E ratios, shape classes, shape in polar view, costae pori, vestibula, protrusion of endoapertures and exine sculptur-ings. Species delimitation in these nine characters is tabulated. Four shape classes, eight exine sculpturings and seven pollen types were recognized. A key for identification to these pollen types is presented and the species in-cluded in each of these types are also outlined. Previous macro-morphological and molecular classification of the genus were discussed in the light of the present palynological study.

Download Full-text

Sporoderm morphogenesis in Euphorbia obesa and Croton gratissimus

Bothalia ◽

10.4102/abc.v14i3/4.1253 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 14 (3/4) ◽

pp. 849-856 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M. L. Frean

Keyword(s):

Pollen Morphology ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Physiological Adaptation ◽

Structure Characteristic ◽

Pollen Type ◽

Electron Microscope Level ◽

Pollen Characters ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Unisexual Flowers ◽

Taxonomic Grouping

Pollen grains of the Euphorbiaceae show a number of pollen types which can be clearly distinguished. Generally different genera are characterized by a specific pollen type. Euphorbia obesa Hook. f. and Croton gratissimus Burch, subsp. subgratissimus (Prain) Burtt Davy, represent two genera within the Crotonoideae with different morphology, each type characteristic for the respective genus. Taxonomically, the genus Euphorbia with apetalous flowers consisting of a naked pistil surrounded by several staminate flowers within a cyathium, is considered more advanced than the genus Croton. In Croton the inflorescence is a raceme with unisexual flowers. The floral whorls of the male show numerous anthers and both calyx and a showy corolla are present. Both genera are insect pollinated. In both Euphorbia obesa and Croton gratissimus the pollen wall in section shows columellae, a structure characteristic of angiosperms. However the present ontogenetic studies show that the formation of the columellae differs entirely in the two pollen types. The final stratification of the wall as well as the morphology of the grains differ and evaluation of the exine structure indicates that phylogenetically Croton pollen shows more advanced characters than Euphorbia — contradicting the floral phylogeny. This study conducted at light and electron microscope level compares the two pollen types morphologically and ontogenetically, concentrating mainly on the formation of the exine which is tectate-perforate in the prolate tricolpate grain of Euphorbia obesa and semi-tectate in the anaperturate, spheroidal grain of Croton gratissimus. The aim of the study was to evaluate the significance of pollen characters in taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships within the Euphorbiaceae. The differing pollen morphology which is related to the taxonomic grouping of tribes within the subfamily (Crotonoideae) emphasizes diversity, which may result from physiological adaptation. The study shows that the same functional end may well be achieved in different ways and this may be a factor underlying the diversity in the heterogeneous family Euphorbiaceae.

Download Full-text

Precise Pollen Grain Detection in Bright Field Microscopy Using Deep Learning Techniques

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s19163583 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (16) ◽

pp. 3583 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ramón Gallardo-Caballero ◽

Carlos J. García-Orellana ◽

Antonio García-Manso ◽

Horacio M. González-Velasco ◽

Rafael Tormo-Molina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Network Architecture ◽

Detection System ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Pollen Grain ◽

Average Value ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Pollen Concentrations ◽

Pollen Counting ◽

Estimation System ◽

3D Information

The determination of daily concentrations of atmospheric pollen is important in the medical and biological fields. Obtaining pollen concentrations is a complex and time-consuming task for specialized personnel. The automatic location of pollen grains is a handicap due to the high complexity of the images to be processed, with polymorphic and clumped pollen grains, dust, or debris. The purpose of this study is to analyze the feasibility of implementing a reliable pollen grain detection system based on a convolutional neural network architecture, which will be used later as a critical part of an automated pollen concentration estimation system. We used a training set of 251 videos to train our system. As the videos record the process of focusing the samples, this system makes use of the 3D information presented by several focal planes. Besides, a separate set of 135 videos (containing 1234 pollen grains of 11 pollen types) was used to evaluate detection performance. The results are promising in detection (98.54% of recall and 99.75% of precision) and location accuracy (0.89 IoU as the average value). These results suggest that this technique can provide a reliable basis for the development of an automated pollen counting system.

Download Full-text

Floral Resources and Nesting Requirements of the Ground-Nesting Social Bee,Lasioglossum malachurum(Hymenoptera: Halictidae), in a Mediterranean Semiagricultural Landscape

Psyche A Journal of Entomology ◽

10.1155/2010/851947 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Carlo Polidori ◽

Alice Rubichi ◽

Valeria Barbieri ◽

Luca Trombino ◽

Marta Donegana

Keyword(s):

Floral Resources ◽

Resource Utilisation ◽

Bee Pollination ◽

Load Variations ◽

Mediterranean Landscape ◽

Pollen Loads ◽

Soil Hardness ◽

Lasioglossum Malachurum ◽

Pollen Types ◽

Social Bee

In order to adopt correct conservation strike plans to maintain bee pollination activity it is necessary to know the species' resource utilisation and requirements. We investigated the floral resources and the nesting requirements of the eusocial beeLasioglossum malachurumKirby at various sites in a Mediterranean landscape. Analysis of bees' pollen loads showed that Compositae was the more exploited family, although interpopulations differences appeared in the pollen types used. From 5 to 7 pollen types were used by bees, but only as few as 1–1.9 per load. Variations of the pollen spectrum through the annual nesting cycle were conspicuous. At all sites, bees nested in horizontal ground areas with high soil hardness, low acidity, and rare superficial stones. On the other side, the exploited soil was variable in soil granulometry (although always high in % of silt or sand) and it was moderately variable in content of organic matter and highly variable in vegetation cover. Creation of ground patches with these characteristics in proximity of both cultivated and natural flowering fields may successfully promote colonization of new areas by this bee.

Download Full-text