scholarly journals Methods for determining the botanical origin of honey

10.5219/1386 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 483-493
Author(s):  
Leonora Adamchuk ◽  
Vladyslav Sukhenko ◽  
Oleksandra Akulonok ◽  
Tetiana Bilotserkivets ◽  
Volodymyr Vyshniak ◽  
...  

The demand for monofloral, original, and special (functional) kinds of honey, or those with geographical indication, is forecast. At the same time, there is a need to improve the methods for determining the botanical and geographical origin of honey. The purpose of the research was to select and apply a variety of techniques for identifying the botanical origin of honey for its correspondence to acacia species. Samples of honey from the Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro regions extracted in the spring and summer period were used in the research. Organoleptic, physicochemical, NMR spectrometry, and advanced melissopalynology methods were applied. The tests were carried out at the laboratories of the Department of Certification and Standardization of Agricultural Products, NULES, Ukraine; the Ukrainian Laboratory of Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products; and the Bruker BioSpin GmbH company (Germany). According to the research results, the requirements for acacia honey were met by the organoleptic method for samples B1 and B2; by the physicochemical method for A0 and A2; by NMR spectroscopy for not a single sample, all being assessed as polyfloral; and by pollen analysis for B1 and B2. The conducted studies confirm the need for a comprehensive approach to the identification of the botanical origin of honey for its conformity to acacia species. There is a need to review the physicochemical indicators for the compliance of honey with the acacia species obtained in Ukraine. After all, even the modern NMR spectrometry technique indicated that the specially fabricated sample that did not contain acacia pollen grains was acacia honey. Identification of the botanical origin of monofloral honey, in particular acacia, should be carried out in the following sequence: pollen analysis (by dominant pollen grains), safety (presence of antibiotics, pesticides), physicochemical parameters according to international requirements, organoleptic parameters.

Author(s):  
Otilia BOBIŞ ◽  
Daniel Severus DEZMIREAN ◽  
Victoriţa BONTA ◽  
Adriana Cristina URCAN ◽  
Adela Ramona MOISE ◽  
...  

Pollen analysis is the basic method for the determination of the botanical and geographical origin of honey. However, the presence of over-represented pollen in honeys may lead to false results of the analysis. This can be more severe if this pollen is present in unifloral under-represented honeys of commercial importance (e.g. thyme or acacia honey). In the present study, we investigated the abundance of nectarless pollen grains on several quality characteristics in honey samples. In particular, the physic-chemical (diastase activity, electrical conductivity, sugars and HMF content) analysis were carried out in order to confirm the declared botanical origin. Spectrophotometric method was used for diastase activity determination, electrical conductivity was determined by potentiometry and chromatographic determinations for HMF content (photodiode array detection) and sugars (HPLC refractive index detection). The present study confirms that, in the case of non-nectariferous pollen presence in honeys, a second count must be made, excluding this pollen type and pollen analysis alone cannot give reliable results for the determination of the botanical origin. Consequently, pollen analysis should be combined with other analyses, especially in honeys with under-represented pollens, to give precise results for the botanical characterization and labeling of honeys.


Author(s):  
Г.П. ЧЕКРЫГА ◽  
К.Н. НИЦИЕВСКАЯ ◽  
О.Б. ЮДИНА

Разработка систем качества потребляемых населением продуктов из меда невозможна без оценки флористического богатства региона. Цель настоящего исследования – установление ботанического происхождения меда по пыльцевому анализу, а также бонитета медоносной растительности юга Западной Сибири. Объектом исследования были 92 образца меда сбора 2019 года, полученные с пасек, расположенных в разных почвенно-климатических зонах региона. Для анализа из образца массой 200 г стеклянной палочкой мед наносили на предметное стекло в количестве одной естественной капли, закрывали покровным стеклом и под микроскопом при увеличении 400 исследовали морфологическое строение пыльцевых зерен. После идентификации пыльцевых зерен при увеличении 100 подсчитывали количество зерен каждого найденного морфологического типа. Затем вычисляли среднее арифметическое значение результатов пяти параллельных исследований в 5 каплях, определяли сумму средних арифметических значений общего количества подсчитанных пыльцевых зерен каждого идентифицированного типа и вычисляли частоту встречаемости. Ботаническое происхождение меда определяли исходя из процентного количества пыльцевых зерен в меде: при количестве пыльцевых зерен одного морфологического типа, превышающем 45%, образец считали монофлерным, от 44 до 15% – составной частью смешанного меда (полифлерным), от 14 до 0% – фиксировали присутствие, но не принимали в расчет. Установлено, что при получении монофлерных медов медоносные пчелы предпочитают растения: дягиль сибирский (Archangellica decurens Idb.), дудник лесной (Angelica silvestris L.), донник желтый, (Melilotus officinalis L.), донник белый, (Melilotus albus Medic.), рапс (Brássica nápus L.), синяк обыкновенный (Echium vulgare L.). По наличию пыльцевых зерен в образцах меда установлено, что 82,02% видов медоносных растений являются дикорастущими, 17,08% введены в культуру и используются для получения продуктов питания, кормов, как припасечные растения. Выявлена связь почвенно-климатических зон с видовым приоритетом пыльцевых зерен растений в образцах меда. Для всего региона это дикорастущие виды – дягиль сибирский и дудник лесной, с которых получено максимальное количество монофлерных медов – 42,42%. The development of quality systems for honey products consumed by the population is impossible without an assessment of the floral wealth of the region. The purpose of this study is to establish the botanical origin of honey by pollen analysis, as well as the bonitet of honey-bearing vegetation in the south of Western Siberia. The object of the study was 92 samples of honey collected in 2019, obtained from apiaries located in different soil and climatic zones of the region. For the analysis, honey in the amount of one natural drop was applied with a glass stick to a slide, covered with a cover glass. The morphological structure of pollen grains was examined under a microscope at a magnification of 400. After identification of pollen grains at an increase of 100, the number of grains of each morphological type found was counted. Then the arithmetic mean of the results of five parallel determinations in 5 drops was calculated, the sum of the arithmetic mean values of the total number of counted pollen grains of each identified type was determined, and the frequency of occurrence was calculated. The botanical origin of honey was determined based on the percentage of pollen grains present: when the number of pollen grains of the same morphological type exceeds 45%, the sample was considered monoflower, from 44 to 15% – a component of mixed honey (polyflower), from 14 to 0% – the presence was recorded, but not taken into account. It was found that when obtaining monofleral honey, honey bees prefer plants: siberian angelica (Archangellica decurens Idb.), wood angelica (Angelica silvestris L.), yellow melilotus (Melilotus officinalis L.), white melilotus (Melilotus albus Medic.), rapeseed (Brássica nápus L.), common bruise (Echium vulgare L.). Based on the presence of pollen grains in honey samples, it was found that 82,02% of honey plant species are wild, 17,08% are introduced into culture and are used for food, feed, and as supply plants. The connection of soil-climatic zones with the specific priority of pollen grains of plants in honey is revealed. For the entire region, these are wild species – siberian angelica and forest angelica, from which the maximum amount of monoflower honey is obtained – 42,42%.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. O. Adamchuk

The pollen spectrum of honey reflects the regional crops, forest plantations, all the diversity of the plant species near the apiary. That is why the use, adaptation, and improvement of various methods of pollen analysis and interpretation of its results are topical questions in the countries which produce original varieties of honey on the international market. Ukraine is a leader in manufacturing and exporting honey in Europe and worldwide. Usually, Ukrainian honey is exported not as a finished food product, but as a raw material. This is because the pollen spectrum of Ukrainian honeys is provided with no description characterising their botanical and geographical origin, which, in turn, is because there are no pollen analysis methods implemented in  production laboratories. The purpose of this study was improving the pollen analysis method to identify the botanical origin of Ukrainian honeys. The research was conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Standardisation and Certification of Agricultural Products in the National University of Life and Environmental Science of Ukraine, and in the production laboratory of Ascania-Pack Company. The analysis of harmonised methods of melissopalynology and standardised pollen detection methods has allowed developing a botanical method of honey identification adapted to be introduced in Ukrainian laboratories. The method suggested is a complex of individual procedures, operations,  and techniques. It has been detailed how to prepare solution to fix and stain pollen preparations obtained from honey. The method of preparing a suspension of pollen grains from honey has been improved: extra dissolution of crystals and a lower speed of the centrifuge reduce the time of making the preparation and improve its quality. The method of obtaining preparations of pollen grains from honey has been adapted to harmonised international melissopalynological methods. New methods have been developed to count pollen grains in prepared monofloral and polyfloral honey samples. It has been detailed how to identify step-by- step the botanical origin of honey by pollen grains using international databases. The method has been implemented in the production laboratories of leading enterprises in Ukraine and Belarus.


Author(s):  
Sigrún Dögg Eddudóttir ◽  
Eva Svensson ◽  
Stefan Nilsson ◽  
Anneli Ekblom ◽  
Karl-Johan Lindholm ◽  
...  

AbstractShielings are the historically known form of transhumance in Scandinavia, where livestock were moved from the farmstead to sites in the outlands for summer grazing. Pollen analysis has provided a valuable insight into the history of shielings. This paper presents a vegetation reconstruction and archaeological survey from the shieling Kårebolssätern in northern Värmland, western Sweden, a renovated shieling that is still operating today. The first evidence of human activities in the area near Kårebolssätern are Hordeum- and Cannabis-type pollen grains occurring from ca. 100 bc. Further signs of human impact are charcoal and sporadic occurrences of apophyte pollen from ca. ad 250 and pollen indicating opening of the canopy ca. ad 570, probably a result of modification of the forest for grazing. A decrease in land use is seen between ad 1000 and 1250, possibly in response to a shift in emphasis towards large scale commodity production in the outlands. Emphasis on bloomery iron production and pitfall hunting may have caused a shift from agrarian shieling activity. The clearest changes in the pollen assemblage indicating grazing and cultivation occur from the mid-thirteenth century, coinciding with wetter climate at the beginning of the Little Ice Age. The earliest occurrences of anthropochores in the record predate those of other shieling sites in Sweden. The pollen analysis reveals evidence of land use that predates the results of the archaeological survey. The study highlights how pollen analysis can reveal vegetation changes where early archaeological remains are obscure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Bleha ◽  
Tatiana Shevtsova ◽  
Andrej Sinica ◽  
Vojtech Kruzik ◽  
Jan Brindza

Six supposedly unifloral bee pollens of various botanical origins were characterised by morphometry, SEM, CIE L*a*b* colour parameters and FTIR spectroscopy. Botanical origin and homogeneity of bee pollens were verified by colour and morphology of pollen grains. Water activity, moisture and antioxidant capacity of bee pollens were also evaluated. The results were discussed in terms of connection between botanical origin, composition and antioxidant properties of pollen materials.


1970 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vorsila L. Bohrer

AbstractThe Hohokam grew maize as early as 300 B.C. Common beans were introduced by Estrella phase (100 B.C.-A.D. 100) and cotton was cultivated by the following phase (A.D. 100-300). Sahuaro and mesquite seeds supplemented agricultural products especially when crops failed. The Hohokam apparently harvested two plantings per year. Opuntia seeds were eaten when crops failed and sedge seeds were consumed during optimal conditions for growth of all local vegetation. Pollen analysis suggests cholla buds were eaten and that there was continual expansion of agricultural land from Sweetwater through Gila Butte phases. Coniferous timbers were incorporated into houses during the last phase (Sacaton, A.D. 1100-1200) of the occupation of Snaketown.


2006 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ortrud M. Barth ◽  
Luiz E.U. São-Thiago ◽  
Marcia A. Barros

A sediment sample was obtained at 122 cm from the top of a drilling core in the Guapimirim mangrove, Bay of Guanabara, and analyzed using pollen analysis. This muddy core reached a sandy ground at 133 cm. 14C datation got the age of 1760 ± 50 years B.P. The most frequent pollen grains were mangrove species of Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa and Avicennia schaueriana. "Restinga" and tropical rain forest vegetation was recognized behind the mangrove. After the last sea transgression at 2500 years B.P., the water level lowered to its actual size, allowing the installation of this mangrove.


2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Garcia ◽  
C. Perez-Arquillue ◽  
T. Juan ◽  
M. I. Juan ◽  
A. Herrera

Antibacterial activity of twenty-five samples of honey from different botanical origin was evaluated. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was used as the resistant microorganism. Pollen analysis revealed different botanical origins: Labiatae, rosemary, eucalyptus, heather and multifloral. The pH and acidity values were in the normal range, except for four samples that showed acidity values over 40 meq/kg, but none exhibited a state of fermentation. We have not found correlation between antibacterial activity and free acidity in the samples. Labiatae and rosemary honeys have exhibited the largest inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC, conversely to heather honeys, which showed lowest inhibition ability against this microorganism. Our results may indicate the presence of antimicrobial agents in Labiatae and rosemary honeys that have inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC. Likewise, the free acids of heather honeys have not shown inhibitory activity over this microorganism.


1988 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 582-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Hall

Pollen analysis of woodrat (Neotoma) middens indicates that the local vegetation at Chaco Canyon and the regional vegetation of the San Juan Basin, northwestern New Mexico, have been shrub grassland since at least 10,600 years ago. Plant macrofossils in the same woodrat middens indicate that pinyon pine trees were present in the canyon during much of the Holocene, but low percentages of their pollen grains in both the middens and in adjacent alluvium suggest the trees were few, occurring as small stands or isolated individuals along canyon escarpments. The vegetation at Chaco Canyon during Anasazi times was an arid shrub grassland with a sparse escarpment population of pinyon and juniper. A climate-caused regional increase in pinyon at higher elevation sites occurred approximately at the time of Puebloan abandonment.


Author(s):  
Grant D. Zazula

The lack of archaeological or macrobotanical evidence that directly links wild teosinte grass with early domesticated maize requires the exploration of alternative methodologies to document this evolutionary transition. The morphological characteristics and measurements for maize, teosinte and Tripsacum pollen are presented to determine if they display sufficient differentiation to be distinguished in fossil pollen records. Analysis of the data reveals a lack of distinguishing morphological characteristics between the pollen grains of these taxa and prevents palynology from be an effective method in documenting the evolutionary history of maize agriculture. Current methods of pollen analysis cannot be employed to document the evolution of teosinte to maize in the Tehuacan Valley of Mexico and pollen is not likely to provide an earlier record of this transition than what is found in the macrobotanical or archaeological evidence.


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