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Botanical Classification

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Bee Products - Chemical and Biological Properties

Abstract

The study of the pollen content of honeys allows to establish their botanical and geographical origin, contributing significantly to the quality control processes of this hive product. The most relevant characters for identification of pollen grains are: polarity and symmetry, size, shape, sporoderm ornamentation, and number, type and position of apertures. The methodology used has undergone modifications over the years, however Erdtman acetolysis (a method proposed in the last century) is still employed almost worldwide, since most of pollen descriptions in the palynological literature are based on acetolysed material. In the presentation of the results, considering quantitative analysis, it should be indicated to which class of Maurizio the studied honey belongs. However, the qualitative analysis provides the most relevant information. To assess the monoflorality of a honey type, relative frequency of each pollen type, as the percentage with respect to the total number of pollen grains counted/identified (from nectariferous species only), should be included. Nectar honeys are considered as coming predominately from a given botanical origin (monofloral) if the relative frequency of the pollen type of that taxon exceeds 45%. Honeys with over-represented pollen types, such as Eucalyptus spp., or under-represented ones (e.g. Citrus spp.), should reach percentages greater or lower than this value, respectively. Honeydew honeys are poor in pollen grains, whereas the presence of honeydew elements (hyphae, microscopic algae, fungal spores, etc.) is relevant. It is considered to be predominately honeydew if the ratio honeydew elements/pollen grains exceeds 3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hispano-Luso Institute for Agricultural Research (CIALE), University of Salamanca, Villamayor Campus, C/Río Duero N°12, 37185, Villamayor (Salamanca), Spain

    Estefanía Sánchez Reyes & José Sánchez Sanchéz

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  1. Estefanía Sánchez Reyes
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  2. José Sánchez Sanchéz
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Correspondence to Estefanía Sánchez Reyes .

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  1. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador

    José M Alvarez-Suarez

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Reyes, E.S., Sanchéz, J.S. (2017). Botanical Classification. In: Alvarez-Suarez, J. (eds) Bee Products - Chemical and Biological Properties. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59689-1_1

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