Abstract
We investigated ten honey samples from the Discovery Coast of Bahia, Brazil, to confirm the three predominant flower sources indicated by regional beekeepers: Brazilian peppertree - Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi; eucalyptus - Eucalyptus L'Hér. spp.; and velame - Croton L. spp.. The honeys were collected in five Southern Bahia municipalities - Belmonte, Eunápolis, Guaratinga, Itabela and Porto Seguro. The samples underwent acetolysis and, after slides mounting, the pollen types were identified and counted to determine the frequency classes. The pollen spectra revealed 31 pollen types in 27 genera and 17 families. The palynological analysis confirmed the predominant eucalyptus flower source indicated for four honey samples from Belmonte, Eunápolis, Itabela and Porto Seguro. Three honey samples previously indicated with predominant eucalyptus and velame flower sources had no predominant pollen. Eucalyptus predominated as the main flower source for another three samples previously indicated by beekeepers as Brazilian peppertree and velame. We conclude that regional honeys marketed as having a predominant flower source may have distinct botanical origin. This demands further research aimed at reviewing which bee plants provide resources for monofloral, bifloral and plurifloral honeys in the Bahian Discovery Coast.
Highlights
Among the consequences caused by the loss of Atlantic Rain Forest areas in Brazil (SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation 2017) is the deficit in ecosystem services, such as pollination, an essential process for the reproduction of most plant species (Varassin et al 2021)
We recognized the botanical affinity of 31 pollen types in the honey samples, distributed across 27 genera and 17 families (Table II)
The pollen spectrum of some honey samples from the Discovery Coast of Bahia differs from the predominant flower sources previously indicated by regional beekeepers
Summary
Among the consequences caused by the loss of Atlantic Rain Forest areas in Brazil (SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation 2017) is the deficit in ecosystem services, such as pollination, an essential process for the reproduction of most plant species (Varassin et al 2021). Deforestation affects the flora available for bees and other animals that depend on plants for food, shelter, defense, etc. Knowing the beeexploited flora is essential to plan strategies for biodiversity conservation, and pollen analysis proves to be an effective method employed for this purpose. Monofloral or unifloral honeys include above 45% of pollen grains from a single plant species (Louveaux et al 1978). Monofloral honeys are appreciated by consumers due to their flavor, color, aroma, and pharmacological
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