| dc.description | A total of 61 dried bee pollen samples collected in four Brazilian macro-regions within
19 municipalities were analyzed aiming to identify the sources used by Apis mellifera
(L.) for pollen production and to enable a more accurate product certification. Sample
preparation followed the standard methodology, including washing the pollen grains
with ethanol, then with water and homogenising the sediment in a water/glycerine
solution for microscopic observation. Pollen counts included at least 500 pollen grains
per sample. Only six samples, presenting a unique species or pollen type comprising
more than 90% of the pollen sum, were considered monofloral, including Ambrosia sp.,
Cecropia sp., Eucalyptus sp., Fabaceae, Mimosa scabrella (Benth.) spp. and Schinus sp.
pollen types. The most frequent pollen types of the heterofloral pollen batches, based
on a counting limit of 45%, included Anadenanthera sp., Asteraceae, Brassica sp., Caesalpiniaceae,
Cocos nucifera (L.) sp., Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia (Benth.) sp., Mimosa verrucosa
(Benth.) sp., and Myrcia sp. pollen types. This result may be related to the great
diversity of the Brazilian flora contributing to heterofloral pollen loads and honeys. | |
