The importance of weeds as melliferous flora in central Chile

Abstract

in Chile has been demonstrated in many studies; however, certain species that are viewed as weeds contribute extensively to the floral composition of honey. A total of 92 honey samples from the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins region in Chile were analyzed to determine which weeds are most important in honey production and which are most preferred by melliferous bees. Their relative contributions to the pollen fraction of each honey sample were also determined using melissopalynological tests in accordance with Chilean regulation (NCh2981.Of2005; Ministerio de Agricultura. 2006) to evaluate the botanical origins of the honey samples. Species considered weeds were classified according to their importance in Chilean crops, as proposed by Matthei (1995), based on the classification system by Holm (1979). These authors categorize weeds on a scale that ranges from "very serious", if they potentially cause significant crop loss, to "occasionally present as weeds" if they are part of the national flora. A total of 19 weeds were identified at the species level from the pollen types found, and five weeds were identified at the genus level. The weeds were classified as contributing very frequently, frequently, rarely and occasionally to honey using the methodology described by Louveaux et al. (1970) for determining the frequency with which plant species contribute to honey based on the corresponding pollen types found in honey. Overall, 74% of the weeds used by Apis mellifera were European, and 53% of the weeds had perennial life cycles. The families that contributed the most to honey production were Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Brassicaceae. The importance of species viewed as weeds in the production of Chilean honey is discussed.

Declining honey production and beekeeper adaptation to climate change in Chile

“…On the other hand, in Mediterranean climate, monofloral honey are also dominated by native flora, specially Quillay (Montenegro et al, 2009). In this area, weeds has been also recognized as an important component of multifloral honey (Grimau et al, 2014).…”

Mineral and Botanical Composition of Honey Produced in Chile’s Central-Southern Region

“…For the honey samples from Chiloé Island Province, it was possible to observe the presence of Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus) (Table 3), a species that predominated in the samples collected in sectors of the northern part of the island, an area used for forestry production [29]. Species Brassica rapa (Field mustard), a very common wild plant throughout Chile [30], which grows as a weed in crop fields and along roadsides [31], was found mainly in Green Patagonia Territory.…”

Melliferous Potential of Weedy Herbaceous Plants in Crop Fields of Romania from 1949 to 2012

“…The yield of annual species (Lamium amplexicaule and Lamium purpureum: 60 kg /ha for both) is lower than that of the perennial one (Lamium album: 132 kg/ha) and their benefit as a valuable resource for bees was confirmed by Denisow & Wrzesień (2015). Annual plants are more sensitive than perennials to temperature conditions at the soil surface, while perennials are probably better able to use resources in deep soil and also have strong roots which accumulate nutritional reserves that enable them to develop a higher floral potential (Grimau et al, 2014;Hicks et al, 2016). In addition, they exhibit such favourable Melliferous potential of weedy plants phenotypic traits as extended growing season and a long duration of flowering.…”