Pollen Studies of East Texas Honey

Abstract

Since the beginning of honey production, certain honey types have been favored because they taste better, are better for cooking or do not rapidly crystallize. Thus, they are preferred over others, are in high demand and are sold at higher prices. The pollen of 37 honey samples from East Texas was examined. Pollen was recovered from the honey by using an alcohol-dilution method. Overall, 431 taxa identified into 61 families, 104 genera and 85 species were found in the samples. The number of taxa per sample varied from 17–52. Half of the samples contained 31–40 taxa, indicating a high diversity in botanical origin. Three taxa were found in >50% of the samples and are the most important: Berchemia scandens, Salix nigra and Toxicodendron radicans. Berchemia scandens was found in 89% of the samples and was a predominant type in three samples and an important secondary type in 14. Both Salix nigra and Toxicodendron radicans pollen occurred in 83% of the samples and neither occurred as a predominant or secondary type. Three samples were Berchemia scandens unifloral honey. By examining the pollen in honey, it can determined which habitats honeybees visit, which plants honeybees use as food, if they visit row crops and orchards and their role in pollination. In order to differentiate honey from the United States of America (USA) from honey produced in other countries, the honey from each state must be analyzed. Only by analyzing the pollen in the honey of the USA can it be reliably differentiated from foreign honey that is being sold as produced in the USA.

Keywords:

• melissopalynology
• pollen
• honey
• East Texas

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gretchen D. Jones

GRETCHEN D. JONES is currently retired; she was previously a research biologist for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service (ARS), and worked in the Areawide Pest Management Research Unit at College Station, Texas. She received her masters in botany from Stephen F. Austin State University and a PhD in botany from Texas A&M University. For her PhD, Gretchen studied melissopalynology and worked with European and Africanised honey bees. Gretchen's research for USDA-ARS included studying the pollen on and in insect pests to determine what they eat besides our crops, the migration and dispersal of these insects, and what parts of the USA they originated from.

Vaughn M. Bryant

VAUGHN M. BRYANT received his degrees from the University of Texas at Austin (BA in geography; MA in anthropology; PhD in Botany), and currently is a Professor of Anthropology and the Director of the Texas A&M University Palynology Laboratory. He is also an adjunct Professor of Forensic Sciences at the University of Nebraska. Vaughn has been Managing Editor and President of AASP - The Palynological Society. He has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award, the Honorary Life Membership Award and the Medal for Excellence in Education by AASP - The Palynological Society. Currently he is Secretary and one of the trustees of the AASP Foundation.