MELISSOPALYNOLOGICAL STUDIES OF Apis cerana Fab. IN NORTH BENGALURU REGION
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Date
2012-07-10
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University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, Bangalore
Abstract
Melissopalynological analysis for identification of bee flora of North Bengaluru
was carried out at Department of Apiculture, University of Agricultural
Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru. Based on qualitative and quantitative pollen
analysis, eight honey samples and 65 pollen loads collected between September
to December, 2011 (Six samples) and between January to April, 2012 (two
samples) in North Bengaluru area from India were classified based on their
botanical origin to identify the most important floral sources as well as a study
on existing bee flora to develop a floral calendar for the region. A total of 42
different pollen types were identified in the honey samples referable to 21
Families, with the best represented families being Fabaceae (19%), Myrtaceae
(14%) and Asteraceae (10%). Predominant pollen types were: Mimosa pudica in
three samples, Canthium parviflorum and Dendrophthoe sp in one sample where
as 26 pollen types were identified from pollen loads samples where Cocos
nucifera was the dominant pollen in all pollen types combined together with 40
% of cumulative percentage of occurrence. 56 plant species were recorded as
source of nectar/ or pollen for Apis cerana in which some of the flowering plants
proved a significant importance to the beekeeping industry in the area by
providing pollen and nectar sources throughout the year. These were Sechium
edule (Cucurbitaceae), Hamelia patens (Rubiaceae), Clerodendrum speciosum
(Verbenaceae), Altemanthera sessilis (Amaranthaceae), Tagetes lemmonii
(Asteraceae), Citrus limon (Rutaceae), Tagetes erecta (Asteraceae), Caricapapaya
(Caricaceae), Spathiphyllum sp (Araceae), Tagetes tenuifolia (Asteraceae) and
Tumera ulmiforia (Turneraceae). The correspondence analysis showed a
similarity among the honey and pollen loads’ samples based on pollen
composition. The quantitative analysis placed honey samples into Class I (one
sample), Class II (four samples), Class III (two samples) and class IV (one
sample). A similarity index showed a close degree of similarity in some paired
honey samples ranging from 0.54 to 0.8 where as other paired samples showed
a dissimilarity ranging from 0.12 to 0.48.
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