Submit manuscript...
Journal of
eISSN: 2572-8466

Applied Biotechnology & Bioengineering

Research Article Volume 9 Issue 6

Study of the beekeeping flora of the department of Fray Mamerto Esquiu, Province of Catamarca, Argentina

Felicetti MJ,1,2 Di Barbaro MG,1 Batallan Morales SR,1 Espeche Acosta ER,1 Varela NH,1 Odales DJ3

1Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Catamarca, Argentina
2SAFCI (Secretariat of Family, Peasant and Indigenous Agriculture), Argentina
3Secretariat of the Environment of the Province of Catamarca, Argentina

Correspondence: Di Barbaro MG, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, National University of Catamarca, Argentina, Tel 5493834565995

Received: October 17, 2022 | Published: November 23, 2022

Citation: Felicetti MJ, Barbaro DMG, Morales BSR, et al DL. Study of the beekeeping flora of the department of Fray Mamerto Esquiu, Province of Catamarca, Argentina. J Appl Biotechnol Bioeng. 2022;9(6):211-214. DOI: 10.15406/jabb.2022.09.00311

Download PDF

Abstract

Each region has its own floristic characteristics relative to its geographical position. The specificity of the vegetation and the particularities of each flora require knowledge of the beekeeping flora to determine the forage supply for bees. Where, beekeeping production in the Fray Mamerto Esquiú department (Catamarca, Argentina) is based on the diversity of plant species of the place, composed of the native beekeeping flora, the natural forest and different types of crops (forage, fruit trees, vegetables and ornamentals). The flora is the only resource that bees have to produce honey and other bee products (wax, mead, propolis, etc.), where the botanical resource gives these products particular physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics. The objective of this work is to determine the beekeeping flora present in the Fray Mamerto Equiu department. Expeditions were made during all four seasons. 58 species with beekeeping aptitude were inventoried and identified, represented by 20 botanical families, the most abundant being Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, Fabaceae and Rosaceae. A higher percentage of herbaceous plants was observed, mainly due to exotic forage agricultural herbs implanted and domesticated, being able to observe a flowering period that extended throughout the months of March, April, May, June, July, August and September, with a maximum between mid-July to September onwards. The biodiversity of beekeeping flora present in the Department of Fray Mamerto Esquiú establishes a sustained pollen offer throughout the year, and obtaining honey and other beekeeping products with differentiated characteristics according to their botanical origins would add a plus for their commercialization.

Keywords: bee, honey, pollen, mellifera

Introduction

Beekeeping is a productive activity that man has developed through the years; previously beekeeping was considered as only a secondary activity in peasant production, but today it can be established as an alternative for family farmers; because it can be developed in a small space, requires a minimum investment and what is more relevant is that it can be carried out alternately with other agricultural activities, while providing products of excellent nutritional quality to the daily diet. of families, favors the inclusion of young people and women who are the future multiplier actors of said activity.1

On the other hand, it is important to remember that bees carry out pollination on their journey to produce honey, a process of fundamental importance for agricultural production.2 In addition, with the analysis of the pollen content of honey, it is possible to know what its botanical origin is. In this sense, melissopalynology deals with the study of the pollen contained in honey and transported by bees.3 Knowledge of the pollen of the various plant species in the area where the hives are located is almost always essential as reference material for a good melissopalynological analysis, essential to determine the botanical origin of honey and establish its quality.

In addition, as each region has its own floristic characteristics related to the geographical position. The specificity of the vegetation and the particularities of each flora require knowledge of the beekeeping flora to determine the forage supply for bees. The development of beekeeping in the department of Fray Mamerto Esquiú (Province of Catamarca, Argentina), has had different moments in which its traditional character has always been evident, based mainly on local knowledge and traditional practices. The diversity of plant species in the place where the hives are located imprint particular physicochemical, organoleptic and botanical characteristics on the honey. The flora is the only resource that bees have to produce it, so its knowledge is of utmost importance for the rational management of the apiary.4 Beekeeping production has a transcendental impact on agricultural, livestock and forestry production, by generating significant ecological benefits, such as the pollination of crops and other floral species, which describe it as a primary tool for the conservation, recovery of these resources and makes it a fundamental part of sustainable production systems.1

The knowledge of the beekeeping flora will allow the generation of management strategies, maintenance and survival of the hives, in the period of greatest floral scarcity. The presence of beekeeping species is essential in the areas where it is intended to have bees, since these require support species that provide pollen or nectar and contribute to the maintenance of the hive, many of them being able to fulfill this function in winter times where the majority of plant species do not bloom. The plants that are used by family farmers on their farms are highly diversified and can include species for fodder, fruit and vegetable, medicinal and ornamental uses that bloom excessively, producing abundant amounts of nectar or pollen, allowing bees to collect surpluses that are they turn into honey and pollen that the beekeeper can harvest. For the conservation of local biodiversity, it is essential to know the beekeeping flora present, for which this work aims to survey the beekeeping flora in the department of Fray Mamerto Equiú (Province of Catamarca, Argentina) and record the species visited by Apis mellifera L.

Material and methods

Work was carried out in the department of Fray Mamerto Esquiu, which is part of the central region of the Province of Catamarca, bordering to the east with the Sierras Gracianas, to the west with the Sierras de Fariñango, to the north with the Sierras de Gracianas and Fariñango, and to the south with the Valle Viejo department. The vegetation present in the department corresponds to the Chaco phytogeographic province. Both slopes of the mountains are vegetated by forests of the Chaqueño Serrano District, while at the bottom of the Valley there are expressions of this district and of the Chaqueño Árido de Llanura, which give this area a considerable floristic wealth.5

 In order to determine the beekeeping flora, expeditions were carried out during the 4 seasons of the year and tours of the farms and public spaces (squares, spas, etc.) in the months of March to September (autumn-winter), and in the native forest throughout the year (January to December). The species with beekeeping aptitude were inventoried, those that were in bloom and were visited by bees were recorded by direct observation, which was later corroborated with the bibliography. The taxonomic identification of the species was carried out and the common names and those assigned to them by family farmers were recorded. The photographic record of the species and the activities carried out was also carried out.

Results and discussion

The results obtained are presented in Table 1, which indicates the species surveyed, the botanical family to which they belong, scientific name, common name, use and origin of the same.6 58 species were identified, represented by 20 botanical families, being 5 (five) the most abundant families with beekeeping aptitude. The most represented families in the supply of entomophilous flowering were Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae and Rosaceae (Figure 1), results similar to those obtained by Forcone7 in the Lower Valley of the Chubut River, in Argentine Patagonia. The surveyed species coincide with those found in Rafaela, Santa Fe Province.8 A higher percentage of herbaceous species (67.2%) was observed, while 24.1% were tree species and 8.6% shrub species.

Family

Scientific name

Name common

Flowering

Use

Origin

Amaranthaceae

Alternanthhera pungens Kunth

Yerba de pollo

April-June

Medicinal

Central and South America

Gomphrena boliviana Moq.

Only

April-June

Weed

America

Chenopodium álbum L. Bosc ex Moq.

Quinoa

March-June

Horticultural

Europe

Chenopodium multifidum L.

Paico

March-April

Weed

South America

Anacardiaceae

Schinus areira L.

Terebinth

May-July

Forest

South America

Asteraceae

Bidens pilosa L.

Dry love

March-July

Weed

Europe

Cichorium inthybus L.

Chicory

March-May

Horticultural

Europe

Baccharis salicifolia (Pav.Pers.

Chilca

March-May

Medicinal

America

Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist

Mata negra

August

Weed

Central and South America

Cirsium vulgare (SaviTen.

Black thistle

March-Sep.

Medicinal

Europe, Asia and North Africa

Anthemis cotula L.

False chamomile

May-Sep.

Weed

Europe and North Africa

Sonchus oleraceus L.

Lock

March-Sep.

Weed

Europe

Taraxacum officinale (L.Weber ex F.H.Wigg.

Dandelion

March-Sep.

Medicinal

Europe

Flaveria bidentis (L.) Kuntze.

Fique

April-May

Medicinal

South America

Zinnia peruviana L.

Field Chinita

April-June

Ornamental

North and South America

Verbesina encelioides(Cav.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex A. Gray

Quellosisa - sunflower

August-Sep.

Weed

North America

Brassicaceae

Brassica spp. L.

Mostacilla

March-Oct.

Weed

Europe and Asia

Eruca vesicaria (L.Cav.

Arugula

March-Nov.

Horticultural

Europe and Asia

Raphanus sativus L.

Radish

Feb.- Oct.

Horticultural

Southern Europe, North Africa and West Asia

Convolvulaceae

Convolvulus hermanniae L´Hér.

Tinker Bell

April-Sep.

Weed

America

Ipomoea alba L.

Lady of the Night

May-July

Ornamental

Central and South America

Ipomoea indica (Burm.Merr.

Bluebell

April-Sep.

Weed- ornamental

Hawaii and tropical areas of America

Fabaceae

Trifolium repens L.

White clover

March

Forage

Europe, North Africa and Asia

Medicago sativa L.

Alfalfa

April-Sep.

Forage

Persian

Melilotus albus Medik.

White sweet clover

March-April

Forage

Europe and Asia.

Nasturtium officinale W.T.Aiton

Watercress

May-Sep.

Horticultural

Europe and Central Asia.

Lamiaceae

Hyptis mutabilis (A.Rich.Briq.

Matico

March-April

Weed

America

Leonurus sibiricus L.

Lion's tail, Four songs

April-June

Weed, medicinal

Asia

Lamium amplexicaule L.

Mansa Nettle

May-July

Weed

Euroasia

Rosmarinus officinalis (L.Schleid.

Rosemary

March-June

Aromatic

Mediterranean and Caucasus

Tymus vulgaris L.

Thyme

March-June

Aromatic/ medicinal

Africa and Middle East

Mentha spicata var. Rotundifolia L.

Yerbabuena

June-August

Aromatic/ medicinal

Europe

Lauraceae

Persea americana Mill.

Avocado

July-Sep.

Fruit

Central America

Liliaceae

Aloe maculata All., Forssk., Thunb.

Aloe

July-Sep.

Medicinal

South Africa

Malvaceae

Sida rhombifolia L.

Broom mallow, Thrush

March-July

Weed

Weed Tropical and subtropical zones

Sphaeralcea bonariensis (Cav.Griseb.

Malva Blanca

March-May

Weed

Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay

Moraceae

Morus alba L.

Blackberry

August-Sep.

Fruity

Asia

Myrtaceae

Eucalyptus spp. L'Hér.

Eucalyptus

March-Oct.

Forestry/ Medicinal

Australia and New Guinea.

Oleaceae

Olea europea L.

Olive tree

August-Sep.

Fruit

Mediterranean

Oxalidaceae

Oxalis conorrhiza Jacq.

Yellow vinegar

April-June

Weed

Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Plantaginaceae

Plantago sp. L.

Llanten

July-Sep.

Medicinal

Europe

Rivina humilis L.

Sangre de Toro

May-July

Weed

America

Portulacaceae

Portulaca confertifolia Hauman

Portulaca

May-June

Ornamental

Endemic

Portulaca grandiflora Hook.

Purslane

May-June

Weed

South America

Salicaceae

Salix humboldtiana Willd.

Willow Creole

August-Sep.

Forestry

America

Populus sp. L.

Silver Poplar

Jul-Sep.

Forestry

Temperate regions of the northern hemisphere

Solanaceae

Salpichroa origanifolia (Lam.) Baill.

Rooster egg

April-May.

Weed

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Cestrum parqui L'Hér.

Hediondilla

June-August

Weed

Central and South America.

Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.

Horse buster

April-June

Weed

Central and South America.

Rosaceae

Cydonia oblonga Miller

Quince

July-Sep.

Fruit

Caucasus Region

Prunus pérsica L.) Stokes, Batsch.

Peach

Aug-Sep.

Fruit

Afghanistan, China and Iran.

Prunus ceraciferas Ehrh.

Plum

August-Sep.

Fruit

Europe and Asia.

Eriobotrya japónica (Thunb.Lindl.

Nispero

April-July

Fruit

China

Rutaceae

Citrus aurantiumn L. Osbeck

Orange

Aug-Sep.

Fruit

Florida and the Bahamas

Citrus x limón (L.) Burm.,Osbeck

Lemon tree

August-Sep.

Fruit

Himalayas, Burma.

Citrus   reticulata Blanco

Tangerine

Aug-Sep.

Fruit

Southeast Asia and the Philippines.

Citrus sinensis Osbeck.

Sweet orange

Aug-Sep.

Fruit

India, Pakistan, Vietnam and China

Ruta chalapensis L.

Rue

July - Sep.

Medicinal

Mediterranean

Table 1 Flora with beekeeping potential of the Department of Fray Mamerto Esquiú, Province of Catamarca, Argentina

Figure 1 Figure 1 Number of melliferous species present in the Department of Fray Mamerto Esquiú. Campaign 2019-2020-2021.

The honey plants present in the area according to their use, are highly diversified, ranging from cultivated species to native weeds or introduced by agricultural activity, to horticultural, medicinal, ornamental species, etc (Figure 2). This is also due to the fact that the predominant agricultural activities in the Department of Fray Mamerto Esquiú are very varied, ranging from fruit and vegetable production, mostly leafy vegetables (chard, spinach, lettuce, arugula and greens) and to a lesser extent proportion: tomato, pepper, melon, watermelon, carrot, onion, pumpkin, sweet potato, anquín and aromatic plants. Regarding the fruit forest we find citrus (orange trees, limes, tangerines, lemon trees, grapefruit), fig trees, quince, medlar, avocado trees, grapevines, peach trees, plum trees.9,10

Figure 2 Use of honey species present in the Dept. Fray Mamerto Esquiú. Campaigns: 2019-2020-2021.

Forage crops are also produced, such as alfalfa, corn, sorghum, oats and barley. Since livestock production is extensive with grazing in open fields, where cattle for breeding and goats stand out, in stable form, cattle for dairy farms, pigs, and other farm activities such as poultry and beekeeping.

According to the results obtained, it is worth highlighting the important role played by weeds and the natural forest as providers of pollen and/or nectar during the months of low flowering. A very characteristic sector of the region was observed, which is the zone of the banks of the Valle river that crosses it, which is made up of aquatic, herbaceous and arboreal species. As the development of beekeeping in the Fray Mamerto Esquiú department is still incipient, it has had different moments in which its artisanal nature has always been evident, based mainly on local knowledge and traditional practices. The fact that, for the most part, beekeeping practices respond to local production processes can be considered an opportunity for the consolidation of differentiated markets characterized by their contribution to the welfare of beekeepers and to the conservation of biodiversity at the landscape scale. Therefore, with the results obtained, a management scheme for the apiaries in the area can be proposed to optimize the use of the beekeeping flora available in the department and maximize beekeeping production. Said scheme would consist of carrying out a transhumance in autumn - winter, where the beginning of the beekeeping season would take place in the area near the river, then in the paddocks planted with forage crops and vegetables, and finally in the fruit-bearing forest, to then continue with native flowering. In addition, another strategy to consider for transhumance would be to focus on obtaining differentiated honeys according to botanical origins (Figure 3).

Figure 3 Species of Brassicaceae visited by Apis mellifera L. [A: Arugula (Eruca vesicaria); B: Radish (Raphanus sativus)].

Conclusion

The beekeeping floristic resource found in the Department of Fray Mamerto Esquiú is mainly represented by herbaceous species, both native and exotic, implanted and domesticated agricultural livestock, where the flowering period extends throughout the seasons of autumn, winter and early spring, between the months of March, April, May, June, July, August and September, with a maximum between mid-July to September onwards. It would be very beneficial to make available to beekeeping technicians and producers an inventory of the main species of native honey plants in the department of Fray Mamerto Esquiú.

Acknowledgments

None.

Conflicts of interest

The authors state that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

None.

References

  1. Hoyos Sánchez DP. Sustainable management of honey production for small producers. Universidad de la Salle management of agricultural companies Bogotá. 2007.
  2. Beri Angeles. The study of pollen and its applications. The Daily. Uruguay; 2015.
  3. Piedras Gutierrez, Quiroz Garcia, David Leonor. Melissopalynological study of two honeys from the southern portion of the Valley of Mexico Polibotánica. 2007;23:57–75.
  4. Cabrera MM, CR Salgado. Contribution to the study of the honey flora of the province of Formosa, Argentina. UNNE. Scientific and Technological Communications. 2006.
  5. De la Orden E, Quiroga A, Pais AI. Native Trees and Shrubs of Fray Mamerto Esquiú. University Scientific Publishing House. Research and Postgraduate Secretariat. UNCA. 2019. 220 p.
  6. Jorratti Marta Eva, Gabriela Di Barbaro, Diego Jimenez. Survey of ethnobotanical resources of the prepuna, puna and high Andean regions of the province of Catamarca". Flora and Fauna Collection of the Province of Catamarca. Publisher: CFI – Federal Investment Council. Buenos Aires. Argentina; 2009.
  7. Forcone A. Flowering and use of bee flora in the Lower Valley of the Chubut River (Patagonia Argentina). Bol Soc Argent Bot. 2003;38(3–4):301–310.
  8. INTA. Species highly visited by Apis mellifera L. in EEA INTA Rafaela and surrounding areas during the autumn–winter period. 2008.
  9. Felicetti MJ, Pais AI, Quiroga A, et al. Inventory of the native beekeeping flora of the department Fray Mamerto Esquiu, Chair of Agrarian Ecology. FCA. UNCa 1st Conference on Science and Technology. 2018.
  10. Morlans MC, Quiroga A, G Reinoso Francino. Floristic characterization and preliminary zoning of the future south park of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca. Cizas Magazine. 2010;11(2):07–18.
Creative Commons Attribution License

©2022 Felicetti, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.