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Dive into the research topics where Bożena Denisow is active.

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Featured researches published by Bożena Denisow.


Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | 2016

Biological and therapeutic properties of bee pollen: a review

Bożena Denisow; Marta Denisow-Pietrzyk

Natural products, including bee products, are particularly appreciated by consumers and are used for therapeutic purposes as alternative drugs. However, it is not known whether treatments with bee products are safe and how to minimise the health risks of such products. Among others, bee pollen is a natural honeybee product promoted as a valuable source of nourishing substances and energy. The health-enhancing value of bee pollen is expected due to the wide range of secondary plant metabolites (tocopherol, niacin, thiamine, biotin and folic acid, polyphenols, carotenoid pigments, phytosterols), besides enzymes and co-enzymes, contained in bee pollen. The promising reports on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticariogenic antibacterial, antifungicidal, hepatoprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, immune enhancing potential require long-term and large cohort clinical studies. The main difficulty in the application of bee pollen in modern phytomedicine is related to the wide species-specific variation in its composition. Therefore, the variations may differently contribute to bee-pollen properties and biological activity and thus in therapeutic effects. In principle, we can unequivocally recommend bee pollen as a valuable dietary supplement. Although the bee-pollen components have potential bioactive and therapeutic properties, extensive research is required before bee pollen can be used in therapy.


Journal of Apicultural Research | 2009

Pollen production, flowering and insect visits on Euphorbia cyparissias L. and Euphorbia virgultosa Klok

Bożena Denisow

Summary This study investigated the morphological features, flower biology, pollen output and insects which foraged on Euphorbia cyparissias L. and Euphorbia virgultosa Klok. The observations were made between 2002 and 2006 on ruderal plots in Lublin, south eastern Poland. Both species formed inflorescences of the pseudantium type, known as cyathia. The number of inflorescences was 117.06 per shoot for E. cyparissias and 84.72 for E. virgultosa. The opening of spathe in the successive cyathia occurred almost simultaneously in both species, as early as at 6.00 h with the peak between 7.00 and 8.00 h. All cyathia of E. cyparissias are hermaphroditic. In the case of E. virgultosa, the bisexual cyathia on the shoots accounted for 58.3%. Hermaphroditic cyathia are protogynous. Dichogamy in Euphorbia virgultosa is strengthened through the occurrence of exclusively male flowers in part of the cyathia. The mean number of anthers per cyathium in E cyparissias and E. virgultosa, was 17.22 and 14.22, respectively. The small stamens of E. cyparissias yielded a mean of 0.38 mg of pollen per 100 anthers while the larger stamens of E. virgultosa yielded 0.51mg per 100 anthers. The weight of pollen per plant averaged 2.64 mg in E. virgultosa and 3.68 mg in E. cyparissias. Several hymenopteran species (Apis mellifera L. and solitary bees) visit E. cyparissias flowers. Additionally, Bombus spp. forages on E. virgultosa. Among the pollinators of both plants taxa, Diptera were present. Over the five-year period of observation, the density of species studied per square unit varied, but the plants renew each year. The associations with E. cyparissiasand E. virgultosa are not subjected to rapid succession. Hence, the studied species should be considered as an important component of the food chain for Apoidea and Diptera.


Journal of Apicultural Science | 2014

Early Spring Nectar and Pollen and Insect Visitor Behavior in Two Corydalis Species (Papaveraceae)

Bożena Denisow; Monika Strzałkowska-Abramek; Małgorzata Bożek; Anna Jeżak

Abstract This study, conducted in 2008 and 2012 - 2013, evaluated the flowering pattern (seasonal and diurnal), the abundance of flowering, nectar, and pollen yield, and insect visitor activity for Corydalis solida (L.) Clairv. and C. cava Schweig. et Koerte. The populations occur in the ground layer of a deciduous forest (Fagetalia ordo, Querco-Fagetea class) in a natural gorge within the current area of the UMCS Botanical Garden in Lublin, Poland (51° 16’ N, 22° 30’ E). The phenology of Corydalis species showed distinct year-to-year plasticity (e.g., blooming period in March - April or in April - May; duration 18 - 42 days). The most intensive flower opening was noted in the early morning hours (85 - 90% of daily openings occurred between 6.00 and 10.00 h, GMT +2 h). The average sugar yield was similar at 4.6 kg/ha (C. cava) and 5.2 kg/ha (C. solida), but the average pollen production differed and reached 2.1 kg/ha (C. cava) and 4.1 kg/ha (C. solida). The flower-visitor interaction in Corydalis species involved both biological (early pattern of diurnal flowering, protandry, pollen presentation at the moment of anthesis) and morphological (nectar hidden in deep spur) features. Apis mellifera foragers predominated on both Corydalis species (mean of total visitors, 68.0% to C. solida; 62.5% to C. cava) and foraged mainly for pollen (82% of foragers), while bumblebee queens (mean of total visitors, 32.0% to C. solida; 37.5% to C. cava) collected mainly nectar (68.0% of foragers).


Journal of Apicultural Science | 2015

The importance of field-margin location for maintenance of food niches for pollinators

Bożena Denisow; Małgorzata Wrzesień

Abstract Understanding the factors that have an impact on the diversity of forage flora in the agricultural landscape is a key issue in the maintenance and control of food niches for pollinators. Field margins are common linear structures in the agricultural landscape. In the present study, we evaluated the factors that exert an impact on the forage flora composition and on the diversity in field margins. The study was conducted in the 2010 - 2011 time period across the agricultural landscape on the Lublin Upland of SE Poland. Data on the forage flora were obtained while making floristic charts along 45 transect plots x 300 m; the total length being 13500 m. Multivariate ordination techniques (PCA and RDA) were employed to analyse forage-flora characteristics. Field margins represent valuable refuge areas for forage-species richness, but not for the abundance of forage species. On field margins, forage-species diversity benefits from the location of natural habitats (forests or meadows), primarily if the distance from these habitats is <1000 m or the field acreage is <10 ha. The shift from heterogeneous habitats to a more homogeneous landscape causes a reduction of forage floral diversity. Due to lack of dense forage-species patches, the promotion of sowing nectariferous and/or polleniferous species seems to be a reasonable management method to enhance the quantitative food niche on field margins and to support the conservation of pollinators in the areas surrounding farms.


Journal of Apicultural Science | 2013

The Flowering, Pollen Production, and Insect Visitors in the Ornamental Shrub Potentilla Fruticosa L. (Rosaceae)

Bożena Denisow; Sebastian Antoń; Grażyna Szymczak

Summary Urban areas have a specific ecological environment and may help to sustain local pollinator populations by the cultivation of different ornamental plants with entomophilous flowers. This yearlong study examined the flowering pattern, abundance of flowering, pollen production as well as insect visitation of two cultivars of the ornamental shrub Potentilla fruticosa L. (‘Maanleys’ and ‘Blink’), grown in Lublin; a city in south-eastern Poland. P. fruticosa ‘Maanleys’ bloomed from the middle of May to the first decade of September and P. fruticosa ‘Blink’ from June until October. The pattern of diurnal flowering was similar for both cultivars and showed plasticity in the season. Flowers opened most intensively in the morning hours, and 80 - 90% of the daily installment of newly opened flowers expanded by 8.00 h GMT +2h. A delay in the peak of diurnal flowering was noted between the spring/summer and summer/autumn periods. The most intense blooming fell in the 2nd month of flowering. The mass of pollen produced per flower depended on both the number of anthers and the efficiency of archesporial tissues. The pollen output varied from 1.4 to 7.2 mg per 10 flowers (‘Maanleys’) and from 2.6 to 4.5 mg per 10 flowers (‘Blink’). The mass of pollen produced per individual shrub was substantially related to the abundance of blooming. The average estimated pollen productivity in the full flowering phase was low; 1 g (‘Maanleys’) and 1.5 g (‘Blink’) per 10 m2 of shrub crown. The flowers of Potentilla fruticosa attracted numerous insects, mainly solitary bees (33 - 43%), dipterans (31 - 42%), lepidopterans (4 - 14%), bumblebees (3 - 15%), and honey bees (3 - 4%). The Potentilla fruticosa ‘Maanleys’ and ‘Blink’ are propagated for specific ornamental arrangements and due to a long flowering period may be used in small urban courtyards for both decorative value and as a pollen delivering plants. Streszczenie Uprawa różnych gatunków entomofilnych roślin ozdobnych w terenach zieleni miejskiej istotnie wpływa na utrzymanie lokalnych populacji owadów zapylających. W niniejszej pracy przedstawiono wyniki wieloletnich badań dotyczących obfitości i dynamiki kwitnienia, wydajności pyłkowej oraz oblotu kwiatów przez owady dwóch ozdobnych odmian Potentilla fruticosa L. (‘Maanleys’ oraz ‘Blink’) uprawianych na terenie Lublina. Przeciętnie kwitnienie P. fruticosa ‘Maanleys’ rozpoczynało się w połowie maja i trwało do pierwszej dekady września, natomiast termin kwitnienia P. fruticosa ‘Blink’ przypadał w okresie od czerwca do października. Dzienna dynamika rozkwitania była podobna w przypadku obu odmian. W ciągu dnia szczyt rozkwitania obserwowano o godz. 8.00 (GMT +2h), gdy rozkwitało od 80 - 90% wszystkich kwiatów, ale wystąpiło nieznaczne opóźnienie dziennego rytmu kwitnienia w okresie lato/jesień w stosunku do okresu wiosna/lato. Masa pyłku produkowanego w kwiatach zależała od liczby wykształcanych pręcików oraz efektywności tkanki archesporialnej. Wydajność pyłkowa z 10 kwiatów ‘Maanleys’ wahała się w granicach 1,4 - 7,2 mg, zaś 10 kwiatów ‘Blink’ produkowało 2,6 - 4,5 mg pyłku. Średnia wydajność pyłkowa w pełni kwitnienia była stosunkowo niska i wyniosła 1,0 g (‘Maanleys’) oraz 1,5 g (‘Blink’) na każde 10 m2 powierzchni krzewów. Kwiaty badanych odmian P. fruticosa zwabiały owady, głównie: pszczoły samotnice (33 - 43%), muchówki (31 - 42%), motyle (4 - 14%), trzmiele (3 - 15%) oraz pszczołę miodną (3 - 4%). Z uwagi na długi okres kwitnienia oraz walory dekoracyjne, krzewy P. fruticosa ‘Maanleys’ oraz ‘Blink’ mogą być wykorzystywane w założeniach zieleni miejskiej, stanowiąc równocześnie uzupełnienie pokarmu pyłkowego dla owadów.


Journal of Apicultural Science | 2016

Railway embankments - a refuge areas for food flora, and pollinators in agricultural landscape

Małgorzata Wrzesień; Jacek Jachuła; Bożena Denisow

Abstract In a modern agricultural landscape the assurance of food resources is a key issue in the maintaince and control of food niche for pollinators. In the present study we evaluated bee forage flora composition and diversity within railway embankments located in the agricultural landscape, SE Poland. We also analysed the abundance of pollinators that use food resources along railway embankments and recognized insect visitors preference for selected plant species. Railway embankments represent valuable refuge areas for bee forage flora (307 species, i.e. 76.1% of total flora) and pollinators (in total 4172 insect visits from 9 taxonomic groups). However, the richness and abundance of bee forage flora significantly differed between types of the railway distinguished by traffic volume. The highest diversity of bee forage flora is noted along the railway with intermediate traffic volume. Approx. 25% and 40% less bee forage species was identified along railways with low and high traffic volume. Likewise, bee forage flora differed considerably between microhabitat types, i.e. top vs. slope vs. bottom of the embankment. Providing support (e.g. mowing) seems to be an important management type in order to strengthen the native bee forage flora particularly on railway embankments along low and high traffic volume tracks. Such activity is crucial to counteract the spread of aggressive non-forage species (e.g. Calamagrostis epigejos, Artemisia vulgaris, Phragmites communis) and invasive species (e.g. Bunias orientalis, Solidago gigantea).


Acta Botanica Croatica | 2016

The effect of Agricultural Landscape Type on Field Margin Flora in South Eastern Poland

Małgorzata Wrzesień; Bożena Denisow

Abstract Plant species diversity is threatened in many agricultural landscapes due to the changes it has to undergo. Although the modification of the agricultural landscape pattern is observed across Europe, both extensive and intensive agricultural landscapes still co-exist in Poland. The objective of the study was to examine the flora in field margins in intensively and extensively managed agricultural landscapes, located across three regions in SE Poland. The flora was compared with respect to species richness, diversity, and evenness indices. Detrended correspondence analysis was employed to characterise variation in species composition. Agricultural landscape type made a higher contribution than the topography or geology to species richness and composition in field margins. Field margins function as important habitats for general vascular plant species diversity and are useful for the conservation of rare, threatened, endangered or bee plants. A significant decline in species diversity was observed over a distance of 1000 m from the habitat elements. Plants growing on field margins are mainly perennials; however participation of annuals clearly increases in intensive landscapes. The participation of wind-dispersed species decreased in an open-spaced intensive landscape. Animal-dispersed plants predominated in an extensive landscape with forest islands. Irrespective of landscape type, native species predominated. However, these habitats create the biota and corridors for alien-invasive species as well.


Journal of Apicultural Research | 2015

The habitat effect on the diversity of pollen resources in several Campanula spp. – an implication for pollinator conservation

Bożena Denisow; Małgorzata Wrzesień

Lack of pollen, a main protein source, is widely regarded as one of the causes of pollinator decline. This study investigated the potential mass of Campanula patula L., Campanula persicifolia L., Campanula glomerata L., Campanula bononiensis L., and Campanula trachelium L. pollen that can serve as food for insect visitors. Observations and measurements were made during the period 2006–2008 on two separate sites for each species (in natural or semi-natural vs. man-made habitats). The study site was situated in the agricultural landscape on the Lublin Upland, south-eastern Poland (51°18ʹ27ʹʹN, 22°26ʹ05ʹʹE). The total pollen yield was restricted by various biotic parameters (anther size and pollen viability) and abiotic factors (habitat and/or meteorological conditions). Therefore, the pollen production may differ considerably among species and the reward of the same species can be variable among habitats and growing seasons. The total pollen yield was higher on natural and semi-natural habitats (3.7–12.7 g per 10 m2 plot) compared to man-made habitats (2.9–4.8 g per 10 m2 plot). The main visiting insects are bees, although flies and beetles have also been recorded. Consequently, Campanula species are important in supporting general insect biodiversity within various ecosystems and indirectly influence pollination services and biocontrol in agroecosystems. To maximize the abundance and diversity of bees and other pollinators in the surroundings of agroecosystems, natural and semi-natural habitats with an adequate quantity of food supplementation, rather than man-made habitats, are indispensable. However, in the landscape context, the minimum size of high quality fragmented natural and semi-natural patches may differ considerably.


Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | 2017

Validation of floral food resources for pollinators in agricultural landscape in SE Poland

Jacek Jachuła; Bożena Denisow; Małgorzata Wrzesień

BACKGROUND Proper management of bee pastures is considered an important activity for diversity of pollinators and conservation of the population size. In the present study, the floral composition and diversity, flowering spectrum and availability of food resources in natural and man-made habitats in four rural municipalities in Lublin Upland, SE Poland were evaluated. The connection between pollinator-friendly biotopes was also determined and some suggestions are made on creation/supplementation of bee pastures adapted to the arable land structure in eastern Poland (mean acreage 7.65 ha). RESULTS Forage species richness (S) differed among vegetation types: the highest S value was found in field margins, while mixed forests represented the lowest species richness (mean ± standard deviation = 37.8 ± 9.5 vs 16.5 ± 2.3). In all habitats, the most abundant flowering was recorded in May. Then the blooming abundance decreased until a complete decline at the end of summer. The mean distance between pollinator-friendly biotopes is 2.4 ± 1.53 km, which is out of the flying range/foraging distance of most pollinators. CONCLUSION Shortages of nectar and pollen resources in the agricultural landscape of SE Poland are evident. Therefore it is assumed that the landscape structure requires support in terms of food niches for pollinators and creation/supplementation of bee pastures is necessary, e.g. six to nine patches of 0.025-0.3 ha each within an area of 100 ha.


Journal of Apicultural Science | 2015

Nectar and Pollen Production and Insect Visitation on Ornamentals from the Genus Hosta Tratt. (Asparagaceae)

Małgorzata Bożek; Monika Strzałkowska-Abramek; Bożena Denisow

Abstract Properly arranged ornamental gardens in both urban and agricultural landscapes can be of a benefit to bees. In this study, we observed the flowering phenology, nectar, and pollen production of the ornamental Hosta species and varieties (H. sieboldiana Engler, H. capitata Nakai, H. crispula Maekawa, H. fluctuans Maekawa, syn. H. sieboldiana var. fluctuans hort., H. undulata var. univittata Miquel (Hylander), syn. H. univittata). Our experiment was conducted in the 2012 - 2014 time period, at the UMCS Botanical Garden in Lublin, Poland (51° 14’ N, 21° 34’ E). The total sugar yield varied almost 5-fold among Hosta ornamentals; the lowest amount was calculated for H. fluctuans (2.31 g per 10 m2) and the highest for H. capitata (11.80 g per 10 m2). The average pollen yield was from 0.24 g per 10 m2 (H. undulata var. univittata) to 9.53 g per 10 m2 (H. capitata). Pollen grains were bilaterally symmetrical, and large-sized. In polar view, they were prolatum (shape index 1.33 - 1.61), while in equatorial view, oblatum (shape index 0.5 - 0.7). Hosta species can complete the summer pasture mainly for bumblebees. In four of the five Hosta representatives, bumblebees accounted for 60 - 70% of the total visits. The honeybee predominated only on the flowers of H. capitata (54 - 71%). Solitary bees were rarely observed (3 - 9% of visits). The phenotypic traits of Hosta flowers (the accumulation of nectar in the deep and narrow perianth tube) reduced the access to nectar reward and restricted an array of insect visitors.

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Dive into the Bożena Denisow's collaboration.

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Małgorzata Wrzesień

Maria Curie-Skłodowska University

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Sebastian Antoń

University of Life Sciences in Lublin

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Monika Strzałkowska-Abramek

University of Life Sciences in Lublin

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Jacek Jachuła

University of Life Sciences in Lublin

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Małgorzata Bożek

University of Life Sciences in Lublin

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Anna Jeżak

University of Life Sciences in Lublin

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Anna Cwener

Maria Curie-Skłodowska University

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Elwira Komoń-Janczara

University of Life Sciences in Lublin

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Agata Konarska

University of Life Sciences in Lublin

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Bożenna Czarnecka

Maria Curie-Skłodowska University

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