Influence of floral resources on brood development and honey quality in Apis mellifera (L.)

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Date
2018-08
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
The study on the influence of floral resources viz. mustard, litchi, coriander and berseem on brood development and provision content in Apis mellifera (L.) colonies was carried out at G.B.P.U.A.T Pantnagar during the year, 2017-18. The results revealed that the average maximum bee strength was found on Mustard with 5.9±2.08 frames/colony, followed by Berseem (5.5±3.03 frames/colony), Litchi (5.5±3.0 frames/colony) and Coriander (5.5±1.58 frames/colony). However, the brood area was maximum in Litchi (1431.4±202.84 cm2) followed by Mustard (994.1±373.44 cm2), Berseem (675.4±92.67 cm2) and Coriander (409.65±261.33 cm2). Similarly, the maximum pollen area was recorded in Litchi (499.03±107.95 cm2) followed by Mustard (312.11±120cm2), Coriander (297.93±206.78 cm2) but lowest in Berseem (149±8.83 cm2). Maximum nectar area was also found in Litchi (1003.95±362.49 cm2), then Mustard (925.56±385.92 cm2), Berseem (312.11±120 cm2) but minimum in Coriander (94.54±16.76 cm2). However, the honey area was maximum in Litchi (702±62.96 cm2), followed by Mustard (543.06±121.75 cm2), Berseem (351.46±141.90 cm2) and lowest in Coriander (34.29±57 cm2). This study proved that Litchi crop is more suitable bee flora for growth and development of honeybees with maximum brood development and provision content followed by Mustard, Coriander and Berseem. The impact of the various abiotic factors like temperature, relative humidity, sun shine hours on brood development and provision content in A. mellifera was worked out on different flowering period. The maximum and minimum temperature had significant positive relationship with bee strength, pollen area, and brood area which indicates that with increase in temperature there would be increase in bee strength, pollen, and brood area while significant and negative correlation with nectar and honey area decreases. The relative humidity was negative and significantly correlated with there will be decreases in pollen, nectar and honey area whereas, positive impact with bee strength and brood area. Although, the sunshine hours had negative impact on, brood and honey area while positive impact on bee strength, pollen and nectar area. The study on the physico-chemical properties of honey from major bee flora (Mustard, Litchi Coriander and Berseem) revealed that the Mustard honey has significantly higher moisture content (19.56%) and Litchi honey has highest EC (0.58 mS/cm), Total reducing sugar (68.59%), and HMF content (16.91mg/kg). However, Coriander honey showed highest pH (4.39), TSS (82.55°Brix) and Berseem honey has the highest total acidity (47.40meq/kg) and Diastase activity (25.86DN). The colour of different floral honey varies from extra white to amber i.e. Pfund value ranges from 9-114mm. The mean content of Minerals was highest in Mustard honey with Ca:8.54, Fe:2.67ppm, while in Litchi honey Mn:2.68, Mg:263, Ni:0.81ppm , whereas in Coriander honey Zn:1.10 and Cu:0.30ppm, likewise, highest content of Cr:0.50ppm was observed in Berseem honey.
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