Pollen analysis of honey samples from Allahabad District,Uttar Pradesh,India

摘要

Pollen analysis of 14 honey samples of Apis dorsata, collected from rural localities of Allahabad district, Uttar Pradesh, has been carried out. Altogether, 42 pollen morphotypes have been identified. Eight honey samples were unifloral and six were multifloral in nature, of which three were bifloral and three were polyfloral. Unifloral honeys were represented by Brassica campestris (in four samples), Eucalyptus citriodora, Psidium guajava, Holoptelea integrifolia and Poaceae (in one sample each). In multifloral honeys, Brassica campestris was the common secondary pollen type found in combination with other secondary pollen type/ types. In total honey samples, pollen of Brassica campestris, Coriandrum sativum, Eucalyptus citriodora and Poaceae were very frequent in occurrence. Bulk of honey pollen originated from entomophilous taxa (54.14%) and amphiphilous taxa (33.33%) while 9.52% pollen grains originated from anemophilous taxa. Occurrence of anemophilous pollen types, viz. Holoptelea integrifolia and Poaceae, in predominant frequency class has been discussed. The present study suggests that Brassica campestris, Eucalyptus citriodora, Coriandrum sativum and Poaceae can be regarded as the major bee forage plants of the region.