Própolis na dieta de abelhas Apis mellifera L. e seu efeito no sistema imune, expressão de genes após o desafio bacteriano e detoxificação frente ao agroquímico fipronil

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FMVZ

Análise do efeito de inseticidas neonicotinóides sobre a orientação e coleta de alimento de operárias de Apis mellifera L., 1758 (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Misturador para análise de propriedades reológicas

This study aimed to evaluate the use of a mixer to determine the rheological properties of fluids. The mixer is comprised of an agitation tank and an anchor type impeller. The tests were performed with honey and fruit juices (orange, guava and peach). The rheological characterization was performed using data from the torque and rotation speed required for the operation of fluid agitation. Tests were also made with a concentric cylinder rotational viscometer with the samples being subjected to various shear rates. The rheological parameters were obtained from the flow curves fitted to the power law model. Analyses of results showed that the mixer can be used, within its limitations, to determine rheological properties.

Caracterização espacial da atividade apícola na microrregião de Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brasil

This study aimed to generate a database related to the spatial distribution of hives and productivity of regional producers, through the Geographic Information System (GIS) using the Global Positioning System. To build the database of geographical information (GIS) software for processing of geo-referenced information was used. The microregion (4 municipalities and 54 beekeepers) shows concentrations (pockets) of beekeepers and hives in certain locations. Further studies are needed on the characteristics of the local flora for bees to infer about possible saturation of floral resources, since no differences were observed between honey production in apiaries isolated or inserted into the pockets. The GIS proved to be an efficient tool for monitoring the location and origin of regional production, and for planning the distribution of hives and apiaries and so, contribute to a better use of flora and improvement of productivity of the apiaries.

Caracterização da produção e qualidade físico-química de méis produzidos no Estado de Pernambuco

The present study had as objective contribute to the characterization of beekeeping in the Pernambuco State and evaluate the physical-chemical quality of the honeys produced in the region. For this, was applied a directed formulary to the representative organ of beekeeping class aboutthe productives and technicals aspects of beekeepers. Was obtained 14 samples of honey by Apis mellifera africanized, stored in sterile plastic vessels was sent to the Beekeeping Products Quality Control Laboratory (CEA-UNITAU). Was observed that the most of beekeepers have of 50 to 100 hives (57,14%), 28,57% of 100 to 200 hives and 14,28% more than 500 hives, being that 85,71% produce 30 to 50 kg honey/hives/flowering. All use the standard hive Langstroth and 85,71% obtain their swarm by capture. About the physical-chemical quality of the honey, was observed that moisture content varied from 18,2% to 22,0%, with mean value of 19,80±1,11; the water activity varied from 0,70 to 0,84 aw, with mean value of 0,79±0,05 aw; the total acidity was 24,91±8,99 meq/kg and the average index of hydroxymethylfurfural was 16,32±17,88 meq/kg. The results obtained are according to the quality limits established by the brazilian legislation, excepted the water activity that exceeded the maximum limit of 0,65 aw. The datasobtained in this paper shows the development of beekeeping in Pernambuco State and the honey presents nice quality.

Utilização dos parâmetros físico-químicos e redes neurais artificiais na identificação dos méis de abelhas (Apis mellifera L.) produzidos no verão e inverno na microrregião de Campos de Jordão, São Paulo

The objective of this work was to typify, through physicochemical parameters, honey from Campos do Jordão’s microrregion, and verify how samples are grouped in accordance with the climatic production seasonality (summer and winter). It were assessed 30 samples of honey from beekeepers located in the cities of Monteiro Lobato, Campos do Jordão, Santo Antonio do Pinhal e São Bento do Sapucaí-SP, regarding both periods of honey production (November to February; July to September, during 2007 and 2008; n = 30). Samples were submitted to physicochemical analysis of total acidity, pH, humidity, water activity, density, aminoacids, ashes, color and electrical conductivity, identifying physicochemical standards of honey samples from both periods of production. Next, we carried out a cluster analysis of data using k-means algorithm, which grouped the samples into two classes (summer and winter). Thus, there was a supervised training of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) using backpropagation algorithm. According to the analysis, the knowledge gained through the ANN classified the samples with 80% accuracy. It was observed that the ANNs have proved an effective tool to group samples of honey of the region of Campos do Jordao according to their physicochemical characteristics, depending on the different production periods.

Análise energética de cerveja eleborada com mel

The objective of this study was to characterize energetically beersmade withhoney. The tests of beer production weremade withninetreatments,threecombination of the originalextract concentrations (11, 13and 15 °Brix) and threepercentagesof honeyin the wort formulation(0, 20 and 40%).The experimentwas completely randomizedwith two replications, totaling eighteenplots.Themashingprocesswas performed byinfusion, with honey added in the boiling step. After clarified, the wort had its extract contents corrected with the addition of filtered water and was inoculated withlowfermentation yeast .The fermentation occurred at 10 ° C. The beer was manually bottled and stored in a freezer at 0 °C for 15 days, formaturation. The beers were chemically analyzed on proximate composition (moisture, protein, lipid, ash, and carbohydrate), alcohol content (% m / m) and then calculated the energy value. The results ofchemical analysis andenergetic valuesof the beerswere subjected to analysisof variance (F test) and the means werecompared byTukey testat 5% probability. The commonbeershad the lowestenergy value (31.05 to 31.95 kcal100g-1) in relation toextra(36.42 to 38.42 kcal100g-1) and strong(38.20 to 40.17 kcal100g-1) beers. Theincrease in the original extractin beerraises theircaloric values. The presenceof honeyin the formulationincreasedthe energetic valuesincommon andextrabeersand decreasedin strong.The levelsof alcohol andcarbohydratewere predominant in thebeer energetic values,beingpossible to observeadirect relation amongthese components ofbeer and theircaloric value.

EC23-122 Sweet Clover in Nebraska

Sweet clover is adapted to practically all parts of Nebraska. It will grow under a wide range of soil and climatic conditions and is found growing wild in almost all sections of the state. It grows luxuriantly in eastern Nebraska and also does well in the western part of the state. Sweet clover will grow in regions of less rainfall than will red clover and, under certain conditions, it will do well where alfalfa is not easily grown. This 1923 circular is largely based on questionnaire replies received from more than 200 farmers growing sweet clover in all parts of the state and on personal observations of and experiences with the crop in various counties.

Desempenho de cultivares de morango submetidas a diferentes tipos de polinização em cultivo protegido

Resumo – O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes tipos de polinização sobre a qualidade de frutos de cultivares de morangueiro e sua contribuição isolada para a massa dos frutos, bem como determinar o potencial de Plebeia nigriceps (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Meliponini) como agente polinizador em ambiente protegido. As cultivares Aromas, Diamante e Cegnidarem foram submetidas a tratamentos com autopolinização, polinização por P. nigriceps e polinização livre. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em estufa tipo pampeana, coberta com polietileno transparente e desprovida de telas anti-insetos nas laterais, com 1.344 plantas. Para as avaliações, foram marcadas 56 flores primárias em botão, de cada cultivar, e considerou-se cada planta uma repetição. Avaliaram-se massa de matéria fresca, peso, diâmetro, comprimento e presença de deformação nos frutos. A polinização entomófila tem contribuição variada à massa dos frutos, de acordo com a cultivar. As cultivares apresentam sensibilidade variada à autopolinização, no que se refere à incidência de frutos deformados. Ainterferência da polinização entomófila na produtividade do morangueiro está mais relacionada à redução do percentual de frutos deformados do que ao aumento da massa dos frutos em si. O comportamento de P. nigriceps indica que a espécie apresenta potencial para polinização da cultura do morangueiro em ambiente protegido.

Botanical Preferences of Africanized Bees (Apis mellifera) on the Coast and in the Atlantic Forest of Sergipe, Brazil

Pollen analysis in honey can be used as an alternative method to research into flowers visited by bees in an area. This study aimed to indentify the main floral families in honey from apiaries in the Atlantic Forest and Sergipe state coast. Honey samples from these apiaries were studied, as well as plants that grow around them, which can be used as a source of foraging for bees. The palynological technique was used to compare the pollen content of honey samples with the pollen grains from leaves of plants found in the vicinity of the apiaries to assess whether they had been visited by bees. The results of studies in both sites were similar in terms of incompatibility of families found in the apiary vicinity and honey. Thus, it was possible to observe that in honey samples from the coast and in the remaining Atlantic forest, the number of families was greater than the number of families found in the apiary vicinity, which highlights the diversity of plants visited by bees and a possible expansion of the visited area for food search. This diversity suggests an adaptive foraging behavior to plant resources available in the environment, which may facilitate the pollination of these botanical families and consequently improve their genetic quality.

Gene copy number and differential gene expression in haploid and diploid males of the stingless bee, Melipona quadrifasciata

Complementary sex determination in Hymenoptera implies that heterozygosity at the sex locus leads to the development of diploid females, whereas hemizygosity results in haploid males. Diploid males can arise through inbreeding. In social species, these pose a double burden on colony fitness, from significant reduction in its worker force and through being less viable and fertile than haploid males. Apart from being "misfits", diploid males are of interest to assess molecular correlates for possibly ploidy-related bionomic differences. Herein, we generated suppression subtractive cDNA libraries from newly emerged haploid and diploid males of the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata to enrich for differentially expressed genes. Gene Ontology classification revealed that in haploid males more DEGs were related to stress responsiveness, biosynthetic processes, reproductive processes and spermatogenesis, whereas in diploid ones differentially expressed genes were associated with cellular organization, nervous system development and amino acid transport were prevalent. Furthermore, both libraries contained over 40 % ESTs representing possibly novel transcripts. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses confirmed the differential expression of a representative DEG set in newly emerged males. Several muscle formation and energy metabolism-related genes were under-expressed in diploid males. On including 5-day-old males in the analysis, changes in transcript abundance during sexual maturation were revealed.

Mixed colonies of two species of congeneric stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apinae, Meliponini) display environmentally-acquired and endogenously-produced recognition signals

Nestmate recognition is fundamental for the maintenance of social organization in insect nests. It is becoming well recognized that cuticle hydrocarbons mediate the recognition process, although the origin of recognition cues in stingless bees remains poorly explored. The present study investigates the effects of endogenously-produced and environmentally-acquired components in cuticular hydrocarbons in stingless bees. The tests are conducted using colonies of Plebeia droryana Friese and Plebeia remota Holmberg. Recognition tests are performed with four different groups: conspecific nestmates, conspecific non-nestmates, heterospecifics and conspecific, genetically-related individuals that emerge in a heterospecific nest. This last group is produced by introducing brood cells of P. droryana into a P. remota colony, and the resulting adult bees are tested for acceptance 10 days after emergence. For all groups, 15 individuals are sampled for chemical analysis. The results show the acceptance of all conspecific nestmates, and the rejection of almost every conspecific non-nestmate and every heterospecific bee. Genetically-related individuals emerging from heterospecific nests present intermediate rejection (66.7% rejection). Chemical analysis shows that P. droryana individuals emerging in a P. remota nest have small amounts of alkene and diene isomers found in P. remota cuticle that are not found in workers from the natal nest. The data clearly show that the majority of the compounds present in P. droryana cuticle are endogenously produced, although a few unsaturated compounds are acquired from the environment, increasing the chemical differences and, consequently, the rejection percentages.

Population divergence of Melipona scutellaris (Hymenoptera: Meliponina) in two restricted areas in Bahia, Brazil

Melipona scutellaris Latreille has great economic and ecological importance, especially because it is a pollinator of native plant species. Despite the importance of this species, there is little information about the conservation status of their populations. The objective of this study was to assess the diversity in populations of M. scutellaris coming from a Semideciduous Forest Fragment and an Atlantic Forest Fragment in the Northeast Brazil, through geometric morphometric analysis of wings in worker bees. In each area, worker bees were collected from 10 colonies, 10 workers per colony. To assess the diversity on the right wings of worker bees, 15 landmarks were plotted and the measures were used in analysis of variance and multivariate analysis, principal component analysis, discriminant analysis and clustering analysis. There were significant differences in the shape of the wing venation patterns between colonies of two sites (Wilk's lambda = 0.000006; p < 0.000001), which is probably due to the geographical distance between places of origin which impedes the gene flow between them. It indicates that inter and intrapopulation morphometric variability exists (p < 0.000001) in M. scutellaris coming from two different biomes, revealing the existence of diversity in these populations, which is necessary for the conservation of this bee species.

Vitellogenin content in fat body and ovary homogenates of workers and queens of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides during vitellogenesis

Vitellogenin (Vg) is an egg yolk protein that is produced primarily in the fat body of most female insects. In the advanced social structure of eusocial honeybees, the presence of the queen inhibits egg maturation in the workers ovaries. However in the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata, the workers always develop ovaries and lay a certain amount of eggs while provisioning the brood cells with larval food during what is known as the worker nurse phase. The present work is a comparative study of the presence of Vg in homogenates of the fat bodies and ovaries of the nurse workers, and the virgin and physogastric queens of M. quadrifasciata. The presence of Vg was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting using Apis mellifera anti-egg antibody. Vg was not detected in the fat bodies or ovaries of the workers, but it was found in the ovaries of virgin and physogastric queens and in the fat body of physogastric queens. The results are discussed, taking into account the reproductive state of the individuals and the other possible roles of Vg, such as a storage protein for metoabolism of other organs.

Integrated landmark and outline-based morphometric methods efficiently distinguish species of Euglossa (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Euglossini)

Morphometric methods permit identification of insect species and are an aid for taxonomy. Quantitative wing traits were used to identify male euglossine bees. Landmark- and outline-based methods have been primarily used independently. Here, we combine the two methods using five Euglossa. Landmark-based methods correctly classified 84% and outline-based 77%, but an integrated analysis correctly classified 91% of samples. Some species presented significantly high reclassification percentages when only wing cell contour was considered, and correct identification of specimens with damaged wings was also obtained using this methodology.