Abstract

ALANIZ-GUTIERREZ, Luis et al. Palinological characterization of honeys of the Mexicali Valley, Baja California, México. Polibotánica [online]. 2017, n.43, pp.255-283. ISSN 1405-2768.  https://doi.org/10.18387/polibotanica.43.12.

The profitability of apiculture and the health of bee populations depend on landscapes rich in nectariferous and polleniferous flowers. Therefore it is clear that knowledge on local bee flora constitutes the basic information necessary to determine the apiculture potential of a region. Nevertheless, there is no research to date showing the floral sources of honey in the State of Baja California. Thus a melissopalynological study of the honey produced in the Valley of Mexicali, Baja California was undertaken to identify the main sources of pollen and nectar utilized by Apis mellifera and determine the botanical origin during the two principal harvest periods around year. The pollen of 52 honey samples was analyzed, these were collected from 13 apiaries on June and August of 2010 and of 2011. To identify the types of pollen, a reference collection was made containing 150 species pollen prepared via the acetolysis method. 78 types of pollen were identified, corresponding to 33 families. 65% of the honeys were unifloral, mainly from Tamarix spp., and Prosopis spp., and to a lesser extent of Pluchea sericea. Sysimbrium irio, Myrtaceae, Phoenixdactylifera, Coriandrum sativum, and Washingtonia filifera were found a single time. Prosopis spp. honeys were most abundant in June harvests, while Tamarix spp. honeys were the most common august harvests. Quantitative analysis allowed to allocate 52% of the samples on class III, 34% on class II, 8% on class V, 4% on class IV and 2% on class I. According to the analysis carried out, it is concluded that the main nectar sources used by A. mellifera in the Valley of Mexicali are Tamarix spp. Propsopis spp. and P. sericea, which are also the most representative elements of honeys.

Keywords : Melissopalynology; Apis mellifera; Baja California; nectariferous flora.

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