GNS Science

Quantitative pollen analysis technique for New Zealand honey

J.I. Raine, S. Fry, R. Tremain, D.C. MildenhallGNS Science, PO Box 30368 Lower Hutt (i.raine@gns.cri.nz)

REFERENCES

Jones, G.; Bryant, V. 2001:Alcohol dilution of honey.

. American Association of Stratigraphic PalynologistsFoundation, pp. 453-458.

Louveaux, J.; Maurizio, A.; Vorwohl, G. 1978: Methods ofmelissopalynology. : 139-157.

Maher, L.J. 1971: Nomograms for computing 0.95 confidence limits ofpollen data. : 85-93.

Moar, N.T. 1985: Pollen analysis of New Zealand honey.: 39-70.

Mosimann, J.E. 1965: Statistical methods for the pollen analyst:multinomial and negative multinomial techniques. In: B. Kummel andD. Raup (editors), .Freeman, SanFrancisco, California, pp. 636-673.

Proceedings of the9th International Palynological Congress, 1996, Houston, Texas,U.S.A

Bee world 59

Review of palaeobotany and palynology 13

New ZealandJournal ofAgricultural Research 28

Handbook of Palaeontological Techniques

GNS SERVICES

· routine honey pollen analyses for qualitycontrol using the technique described above,results provided as a standard report (left)

verification of botanical and geographicalorigin of honeys, e.g. those of foreign origin

·

INTRODUCTION

Analysis of the pollen content of honey haslong been used to investigate provenance andprovide a quantitative measure of floral origin(e.g. manuka pollen percentage) for use incommerce.

To fully characterize pollen content, not only thebotanical species present but their relativeabundance and concentration should beobtained. The last is critical when honeys withdifferent pollen profiles are blended, so that ablend may have a predictable percentage ofcharacteristic pollen. However, accuratemeasurement can be time-consuming andexpensive.

For routine analysis of New Zealand honeys,GNS Science has developed a simple techniquebased on the standard European method ofMaurizio described by Louveax et al. (1978).

SOME CHARACTERISTIC NZ HONEY POLLEN

Leptospermum typemanuka/kanuka

Metrosideros typerata/pohutukawa

Knightia excelsarewarewa

Trifoliumclover

type

Weinmanniakamahi

Lotus

Lamiaceaepennyroyal, thyme

Echium typebugloss

Taraxacum typedandelion

Apiaceaefennel family

Plantagorumex, dock(nectarless)

HDEhoney-dew fungi

etc.

acetolysed pollen, scale bars 10 mμ

TECHNIQUE

10 g of honey is diluted with hot water andethanol, and pollen concentrated bycentrifugation (1-3). Use of ethanol reducesloss of pollen by flotation (Jones & Bryant2001), and removes interfering wax particles.

The pollen concentrate is resuspended in 1.0 mlof water, and a measured aliquot (typically 10 or20 µl) of suspension mounted in glycerol jellywith Safranin stain on a microscope slide usinga 22 x 22 mm coverslip (4-8). After sealingedges, these permanent slides are suitable forarchiving and later re-examination.

If needed, fuller botanical characterization isassisted by acetolysis (chemical clearing) ofthe pollen concentrate before mounting.

Under the microscope, a pattern of regularlyspaced traverses across the mount areexamined and pollen grains of the various plantgroups tallied (9).

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

training, advice and quality control for honeyindustry members seeking to establish theirown laboratories

production of technical manuals including aNew Zealand honey pollen atlas

research into pollen-based standards forhoney description, extending the work of Moar(1985)

·

·

·

CALCULATION

To provide suitable statistical precision, relativepercent abundances are based on a total count ofat least 500 pollen grains, and two standarddeviation limits calculated (Mosimann 1965;Maher 1971). Pollen of nectarless plants (e.g.grass) and of honeydew elements are excludedfrom the total, and their relative abundanceexpressed as percentages of the total of nectar-bearing plant pollen.

Absolute concentration, expressed as pollengrains per 10 g of honey, is calculated from thepollen count, the area of slide traversed, sampledilution, and aliquot volume.

Honey Pollen Analysis

Paleontology and Environmental Change Section

Resources Group

GNS Science

PO Box 30368, 1 Fairway Avenue, Lower Hutt, New Zealand

Telephone (04) 570 1444, Facsimile (04) 570 4600

Client: GNS Test

Sample: GNS T10-C053 Analysis date:

GNS laboratory number: L24903

Pollen concentration: pollen grains per 10 g honey

Pollen type %

mean min max

manuka/kanuka 45.3 41.6 49.0

lotus 23.4 20.3 26.7

Apiaceae 6.6 4.9 8.7

clover 6.0 4.4 8.0

kamahi 4.5 3.2 6.4

other nectar-bearing plant pollen 14.3 11.9 17.1

0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0 0.0 0.0 0.0

nectarless plant pollen 0.4 %

honey-dew elements (HDE) 0.9 %

based on a total pollen count of pollen of nectar-bearing plants

Palynological Classification: manuka multifloral

Notes: other nectar-bearing plant pollen includes dandelion, rata, rewarewa.

Technician: Sonja Fry Pollen analyst: Sonja Fry

95% limits

685

4/06/2010

746,000

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9