Intraannual variations in the pollinic spectrum of honey from the lower valley of the River Chubut (Patagonia, Argentina)

Abstract

Thirty honey samples from the lower valley of the River Chubut, obtained by successive harvests in five apiaries overtwo consecutive apicultural periods (between 1997 and 2000) were analysed. Three hives per apiary were selected, fromwhich three successive harvests were obtained at the end of the following periods: initial (September 1st-December 20th),middle (December 20th-January 30th) and final (January 30th-March 15th). Pollen types were identified by comparisonwith a reference collection. Both reference pollen and sample pollen were subjected to acetolysis. A total of fifty entomophilouspollen types were identified: thirty-six, thirty-five and thirty-seven in initial, middle and final periods,respectively. The most abundant pollen was similar over the whole season, due to the long flowering periods of the taxaproducing dominant and secondary pollen. Tamarix gallica and Medicago sativa were main sources of nectar duringthe entire production period. Significant differences (P