Monofloral honeys in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico

Abstract

This work characterises monofloral honeys of the Yucatán Peninsula based on their pollen content. The sampling was carried out from January to July 2000. We examined 78 different honey samples from various parts of the Yucatán Peninsula including the states of Yucatán, Campeche and Quintana Roo. Pollen separated from honey was acetolysed, identified and counted. Through pollen analysis, 250 pollen taxa were identified, 180 of which had not been reported previously in Mexican honeys. Thirteen different types of monofloral honeys were found (with a percentage of ≥ 45%) within the honey produced in the Yucatán, Peninsula. These were: Viguiera dentata, Bursera simaruba, Piscidia piscipula, Eugenia sp. 2, Pimenta dioica, Melothria pendula, Gymnanthes lucida, Phoradendron quadrangulare, Gymnopodium floribundum, Rubiaceae 1, Thouinia paucidentata, Thouinia sp. 1, and Pouteria mammosa. This is the first study of monofloral honeys in Mexico and Central America. The characterisation of the honey may give an added market value as it permits us to separate the honeys of monofloral or multifloral origin. The results of this study indicate that it is possible to produce several monofloral honeys in a region with great plant diversity as the Yucatán Peninsula. We recommend installing apiaries in disturbed vegetation zones of the Yucatán Peninsula where an advanced succession of a tree layer exists. This supplies the nectar and pollen during the critical period in March and April which is the driest season.