Assessment Of The Floristic, Nutritional And Antinuttritional Properties Of Honeybees Pollen From Southern Nigeria And Effects On Microbial Activities;- Odimba, Victoria O.

ABSTRACT

 The study examined the floristic and chemical compositions of honeybee pollens collected from two geographical locations in southern Nigeria and their effects on microbial activities. The results showed the mean weights (g) of pollen pellets were as follows: Rainforest Apis mellifera adansonii pollen (0.10), Rainforest Melipona species pollen (0.21), and Mangrove Apis mellifera pollen (0.06). Each of these pollen pellets contained approximately (6), (11) and (5) plant pollen types for these vegetation zones respectively. Some ofthe plant pollen types identified were; Mimosa pudica, Dioscorea species, Pterocarpus species, Jatropha species, Nauclea latifolia, Uapaca sp, Hildergadia barteri and were among the predominant plant pollen identified. Pollen samples analyzed contained all the food nutrients. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in their compositions. Rainforest Melipona species pollen had the highest moisture of (39.19%). The Protein contents obtained were 19.22%, 20.62% and 18.98% for Rainforest Apis mellifera, Rainforest Melipona species pollen and Mangrove Apis Mellifera pollen and Mangrove Apis mellifera pollen respectively and were lower than the 25% protein required for maximum brood rearing. The pollen samples inhibited the growths of bacteria species used in the analysis. However, the study showed that the predominant plant pollen types are preferred melliferous species. Chemical analysis ofbee pollen therefore is essential to beekeepers.