Origem botânica, características físico-químicas e sensoriais do mel branco de Melipona fasciculata SMITH, 1854 (APIDAE: MELIPONINA)

Abstract

Honey with a peculiar color, called white honey, is an unusual product, defined by a value of 0.0 to 34mm on the Pfund range color scale. It can be found in honey produced by both Apis mellifera and Indigenous Stingless Bees (AISF). These types of clearer honeys reach higher commercial value and are preferred by the consumer market. The objective was to verify the characteristics of white honey produced by the indigenous stingless bee, tiúba, Melipona fasciculata, identifying the floral resources used by the bee, as well as the main physical-chemical (Brix and Humidity) and sensorial characteristics of white honey . In all, six samples of white honey from M. fasciculata were analyzed, two of which were collected at the Stingless Indigenous Bee Breeding Unit, Meliponário Experimental - Prof. doctor Warwick Estevam Kerr, installed at UEMA's Fazenda Escola de São Luís (FESL). The other samples were collected from meliponaries on private properties in the municipalities of Anajatuba, Arari, São Bernardo and São José de Ribamar, with a sample coming from each municipality. The physical-chemical, sensory and palynological parameters of the white honey samples were evaluated at the Beekeeping and Meliponicultua Laboratory (LAPIMEL) at UEMA. The Brix and Moisture contents of all samples were outside the standards established by the Brazilian Legislation, however, compatible with the physicochemical characteristics for honey from Indigenous Stingless Bees (AISF). The results also showed that in each municipality, there was an important nectariferous species for the formation of honey. The most representative nectariferous species, revealed the plant diversity used by bees, especially by species of native flora, with emphasis on Merremia aegyptia (L.) Urb. (F. Convolvulaceae), Hyptis atrorubens Poit. (F. Lamiaceae), Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (F. Fabaceae), Borreria verticillata (L.) (F. Rubiaceae) and Alternanthera tenella Colla. (F. Amaranthaceae). However, plants that produce a lot of pollen and relatively little nectar may be overrepresented in pollen spectra. On the other hand, plants that produce a lot of nectar and little pollen may be underrepresented in the pollen spectra. This indicates that more detailed studies on the determination of the botanical origin of white honey from M. fasciculata should be carried out