Caracterización del aporte polínico de especies arbóreas y arbustivas en tres muestras de miel procedentes en tres apiarios, ubicados en el cantón Puyo.

Abstract

This research aimed to characterize the pollen contribution of tree and shrub species in three samples of honey from three apiaries, located in Puyo city, in order to identify the tree and shrub species present in the pollen profile and categorize the samples of honey according to its botanical origin by using melissopalynological analysis. Based on this analysis, it was identified the sources of pollen used by Apis mellifera. For this, acetonized microscopic preparations were made. The pollen grains obtained were recognized by means of a microscope depending on their size and shape, by comparison with a reference pollen library. The Kruskal Wallis test was performed on the three honey samples. When performing the Shapiro-Wilks normality test, values less than 5% were obtained, values that did not tend to normality. When performing the Kruskal Wallis test, 15 families and 26 species were reported. Sample one presented the highest frequency of pollen with 47.33% of the species Hieronyma asperifolia (Euphorbiaceae), a result that indicates that it is a monofloral honey. Sample two presented 14% pollen frequency with the Tipuana ecuatoriana species, 12% Senna dariensis, 9% Macroptilium longepedunculatum (Fabaceae) followed by the species Parthenium hysterophorus and Ambrosia peruviana with 9% (Asteraceae) are secondary pollens by which represents multi-floral honey. In the case of sample 3 with 20.67%, it is the highest frequency of pollen corresponding to the species Acalypha amentqcea (Euphorbiaceae), 12% belonging to the species Cordia alliodora (Boraginaceae), and with 10% Melochia lupulina (Malvaceae). These ones correspond to secondary pollens and are categorized as multi-floral honey. Therefore, it is necessary to collect, classify and archive the different types of pollen existing in our country in a palinoteca to improve honey production.