High UMF® honey production from manuka plantations

Abstract

High UMF® (unique manuka factor) manuka honey is in demand because of its strong anti-bacterial properties. However, production is limited and variable; establishing manuka plantations using seedlings grown from seed sourced from areas producing high quality honey is a potential solution. This study compared establishment, growth and nectar dihydroxyacetone content of four manuka provenances (geographically localised varieties) and indigenous manuka at Maxwell and Tutira. Survival was >90% in most provenances. Normalised (80 oBx) nectar dihydroxyacetone content in plantation manuka was generally higher than the indigenous. At Maxwell provenances A (7757 mg/ kg) and C (10 561 mg/kg) had significantly higher normalised dihydroxyacetone than indigenous manuka (4173 mg/kg) and at Tutira provenance D (12 157 mg/ kg) was significantly higher than indigenous (5111 mg/ kg). The results confirm the potential to produce high UMF® honey from manuka plantations. Keywords: manuka, nectar, dihydroxyacetone, sugar, provenances