Guillermina Andrea Fagúndez

Pollen analysis of honeys from the central zone of the Argentine province of Entre Rios

Based on the melissopalynology 38 honey samples collected in the central region of the Argentine province of Entre Ríos were classified by botanical and geographical origin. According to qualitative analysis, 20 honey samples were monofloral and 18 were multifloral. Dominant pollen types were Scutia buxifolia Reissek (Rhamnaceae) in six samples, Baccharis spp. (Asteraceae) in five, Lotus spp. (Fabaceae) in three, Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae) and Eryngium spp. (Apiaceae) in two, Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. (Apiaceae) and Trithrinax campestris (Burmeist.) Drude & Griseb. (Arecaceae) in one sample. One hundred and nineteen pollen types were identified belonging to 52 families; 75% of which were native species. The families best represented in number of species were Asteraceae and Fabaceae. Pollen types such as Scutia buxifolia, Trithrinax campestris, Schinus spp. (Anacardiaceae), Mimosoideae from Prosopis spp., Acacia spp., Mimosa ostenii Speg. ex Burkart, and M. strigillosa Torr. & A. Gray are considered the indicators for this geographical origin. The studied honeys were also characterized by a high frequency of Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Astereae, Echium plantagineum L. and cultivated Papilionoideae forage species such as Melilotus albus Desr., Lotus spp. and Trifolium spp. Honeydew elements were scarce.

Botanical and geographical characterisation of honeys in Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina

Seventy-five samples of honey produced by honeybees from the Department Diamante (Entre Rios, Argentina) were analysed for pollen content. One hundred and forty-two morphological types were identified, belonging to 62 botanical families. Unifloral honeys were predominant (59%). The main type of honey produced was from Glycine max (21%), Lotus corniculatus (15%), ‘clovers’ (11%), Ammi spp. (5%), Melilotus albus, Salix humboldtiana (3%) and Medicago sativa (1%). By means of quantitative analysis, 85% of the honeys were classified as Classes I and II. Foraging behaviour and pollen diversity were analysed in honey samples. Geographical markers are proposed for these honeys. The expected differentiation of samples attributable to sub-environments and harvest dates is discussed.

Stingless Bees as Potential Pollinators in Agroecosystems in Argentina: Inferences from Pot-Pollen Studies in Natural Environments

Stingless bees have proven to be effective pollinators of many crops both in open-field and greenhouse conditions around the world. However, because their sensibility of both individuals and colonies to low temperatures, the subtropical and part of the temperate area of Argentina present favorable climate conditions for open-field pollination. A total of 65 crops that require or benefit from animal pollination (highly autogamous and allogamous, with entomophilous pollination) were found suitable for meliponine pollination in Argentina, but this should be corroborated by means of field studies. Spatial and temporal availability of flowers from crops and wild vegetation was also described. Recommendations of best practice management of beneficial vegetation for the maintenance of permanent stingless bee colonies are given. A case study on strawberry crops in the temperate area of Argentina was also analyzed. A high diversity of native meliponine species from many genera in northern Argentina is suitable for numerous trials on a large number of crops.

Volatile compounds of Argentinean honeys: Correlation with floral and geographical origin

The determination of the botanical/geographical origin of honey provides assurance of the products quality. In the present work, honeys from different ecoregions of Argentina were analysed, and the possible link between the complete pollen profile of honey samples and their volatile composition was evaluated by multivariate statistical tools. A total of 110 volatile compounds were found and semiquantified in honey samples. Redundancy analysis showed significant correlations between the volatile profile of honeys and their production region (P = .0002). According to the present results, 3,8-p-menthatriene; cyclopropylidenemethylbenzene; 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene; 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene; α-pinene; isopropyl 2-methylbutanoate; cymene; 2,6-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene; 3-methyloctane; 1-(1,4-dimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)ethanone; terpinolene; ethyl 2-phenylacetate; naphthalene and 7 unknown compounds could be used to classify Argentinean honeys according to their geographical origin with a prediction success of 96%. Moreover, it could be concluded that honeys with Eucalyptus sp., Aristotelia chilensis and T. Baccharis pollen types presented some characteristic volatile compounds which could be used as floral markers.