Maria Luisa Teles Marques Florêncio Alves

Hydroxycinnamic Acid Amide Derivatives, Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of Extracts of Pollen Samples from Southeast Brazil

Seven bee pollen samples (C1-C7) with different palynological sources were harvested from Pindamonhangaba municipality (Southeast Brazil). Methanol extracts of untreated samples (control), samples frozen at -18 °C and samples frozen and then dried were analyzed by HPLC/PAD/ESI/MS/MS. Flavonoid diglycosides of quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin and patuletin were detected, together with hydroxycinnamic acid amide derivatives, such as N,N,N-tris-p-feruloylspermidine and N,N,N-tris-p-coumaroylspermidine. Distinct phenolic profiles characterized the analyzed samples, but no differences were noted as resulting from different treatments. Total phenolic contents determined with the Folin-Ciocalteau reagent ranged from 1.7 to 2.2%. Antioxidant activities above 75%, based on the DPPH method, were observed for all extracts, not correlated with total phenolic contents. Among samples from the same origin, those frozen were more active than samples untreated (control), and the samples frozen and then dried were the most active.

Nosema ceranae has been present in Brazil for more than three decades infecting Africanized honey bees.

Until the mid-1990s, the only microsporidium known to infect bees of the genus Apis was Nosema apis. A second species, Nosema ceranae, was first identified in 1996 from Asian honey bees; it is postulated that this parasite was transmitted from the Asian honey bee, Apis cerana, to the European honey bee, Apis mellifera. Currently, N. ceranae is found on all continents and has often been associated with honey bee colony collapse and other reports of high bee losses. Samples of Africanized drones collected in 1979, preserved in alcohol, were analyzed by light microscopy to count spores and were subjected to DNA extraction, after which duplex PCR was conducted. All molecular analyses (triplicate) indicated that the drones were infected with both N. ceranae and N. apis. PCR products were sequenced and matched to sequences reported in the GenBank (Acc. Nos. JQ639316.1 and JQ639301.1). The venation pattern of the wings of these males was compared to those of the current population living in the same area and with the pattern of drones collected in 1968 from Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, from a location close to where African swarms first escaped in 1956. The morphometric results indicated that the population collected in 1979 was significantly different from the current living population, confirming its antiquity. Considering that the use of molecular tools for identifying Nosema species is relatively recent, it is possible that previous reports of infections (which used only light microscopy, without ultrastructural analysis) wrongly identified N. ceranae as N. apis. Although we can conclude that N. ceranae has been affecting Africanized honeybees in Brazil for at least 34 years, the impact of this pathogen remains unclear.

Relationship between botanical origin and antioxidants vitamins of bee-collected pollen

This study quantified vitamin C, E and β-carotene in samples of fresh bee-collected pollen and correlating them with the botanical origin. Vitamin content varied between 13.5 and 42.5 µg/g for vitamin E; 56.3 and 198.9 µg/g for β-carotene and 273.9 and 560.3 µg/g for vitamin C. It was concluded that the botanical origin and collecting season influenced the vitamin contents. There is a relationship between the vitamins and its botanical origin: Raphanus sp and Macroptilium sp, Mimosa caesalpineafolia with β-carotene; Raphanus sp, Eucalyptus sp, Macroptilium sp, Mimosa caesalpineafolia with vitamin E and Anadenanthera sp, Arecaceae type and Philodendron sp with vitamin C.

AUMENTO NA PRODUÇÃO DE SEMENTES DE GIRASSOL (Helianthus annuus) PELA AÇÃO DE INSETOS POLINIZADORES

Sunflower plants, cv Anhandy, freely visited by insects (control) were compared to plants protected from insects. Two flower isolation methods were used: covering the plants with net cages (width 3m, lenght 4m, height 2m) and bagging the flowers with gauze. The number, the weight and the percentage of seed setting were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the visited plants (579.28; 41.17g and 82.37%; 456.97; 23.44g 79.70%, in two trials) than in plants protected by cages (81.53; 2.23g and 1.16% in the first trial and 111.92; 3.16g e 28.49%, in the second). The number and the weight of no seed settings were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the plants covered with cages (416.29 and 6.58g; 375.25 and 5.04g in two trials) than in the control (142.69 and 1.71g; 182.38 and 2.53g). The percentage of seed setting in the bagged flowers with gauze was intermediate to the control plants and the covered plants. (64.56% in the first trial and 68.61%, in the second). It is concluded that the sunflower, cv Anhandy, presents a significant increase of seed production due to visits of pollinating insects, mainly honey bees. Cage is the most indicated method to protect plants from pollinating insects.

Using palynological evidence from royal jelly to mediate the spread of Paenibacillus larvae in Brazil

1. Instituto de Botânica, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Palinologia, Avenida Miguel Stéfano, 3.687, 04301-902 São Paulo, SP, Brasil 2. Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Pós-gradução em Entomologia, Departamento de Entomologia, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brasil 3. Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Biologia Geral, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brasil 4. Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Departamento de Ciências Animais, 59625-900 Mossoró, RN, Brasil 5. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Gado de Leite, 36038-330 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil 6. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios, Polo Regional Vale do Paraíba, 12400-970 Pindamonhangaba, SP, Brasil 7. Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal e Ciências do Solo, Ourense, Espanha 8. Corresponding author: cyluz@yahoo.com ABSTRACT (Using palynological evidence from royal jelly to mediate the spread of Paenibacillus larvae in Brazil). Royal jelly may contain pollen grains and their presence can be used to determine the phytogeographical origin of the product. This study analyzed the phytogeographical origin of commercial royal jelly samples from São Paulo State, tested as part of the Brazilian Federal Inspection System (SIF), found to be contaminated with spores of the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, that causes the American Foulbrood Disease. The pollen grains of Castanea had the highest total percentage, with lower percentages of Cirsium/Carduus, Cistus, Parthenocissus, Prunus, Quercus, Robinia, Scrophulariaceae, Taraxacum, Tilia, among others. This pollen spectrum is incompatible with royal jelly samples produced in Brazil. The pollen spectrum resembled that of an imported product, compatible with the Northern Hemisphere origin. Brazilian legislation does not require the phytogeographic origin of imported bee products to be analyzed by palynological procedures, but it is mandatory to have a certifi cate issued by the country of origin attesting the absence of pathogens, monitored with the objective of preventing the exotic diseases from entering Brazil. Palynology, therefore, proved to be fundamental in detecting imports of this contaminated batches.

A scientific note on occurrence of pathogens in colonies of honey bee Apis mellifera in Vale do Ribeira, Brazil

Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa, MG 36.571-000, Brazil Department of General Biology (DBG), Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa, MG 36.571-000, Brazil Honey Bee Health Laboratory (LASA), São Paulo State Agrobusiness Technology Agency (APTA–SAA), PO BOX 07, Pindamonhangaba, SP 12.400-970, Brazil Department of Animal Sciences (DCAN), Federal Rural University of the Semiarid (UFERSA), BR110 Km 47, Mossoró, RN, Brazil