Investigating the Impact of Nosema Infection in Beehives on Honey Quality Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Chemometrics

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of Nosema infection in beehives on the physico-chemical and biochemical properties and spectral characteristics of honey as indicators of honey quality. Comprehensive analyses were performed on honey samples from hives with varying levels of Nosema infection, examining water content, free acidity, optical rotation, electrical conductivity, sugar composition, catalase activity, and pollen content. Honey from highly infected hives showed higher water content (up to 17.3%), lower optical rotation, reduced electrical conductivity, decreased glucose levels, and increased sucrose levels. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified distinct clustering of samples based on infection levels, with changes in the sugar profile, particularly higher phenolic compounds, correlating with increased infection levels. Fluorescence spectroscopy combined with PARAFAC modeling identified proteins and phenolic compounds as key discriminators of honey from infected hives. Correlation and PLS modeling further demonstrated strong relationships between spectral features and honey properties, including catalase activity and pollen content. This research presents a novel approach to evaluating the impact of Nosema infection on honey quality by integrating physico-chemical and biochemical analyses and sugar composition profiling with advanced spectroscopic techniques. These insights are invaluable for improving bee health monitoring practices and advancing sustainability in the beekeeping and honey production industries.