Zafar Aqeela, Zafar Muhammad, Ahmad Mushtaq, Khan Amir Muhammad, Mahmood Tariq, Kilic Omer, Fatima Anam, Habib Darima, Sultana Shazia, Majeed Salman, Attique Rafia
Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Microsc Res Tech. 2022 Oct;85(10):3325-3338. doi: 10.1002/jemt.24187. Epub 2022 Jun 25.
Microscopic visualization of micro-morphological characters were analyzed using a scanning electron microscopic (SEM) tool, which has proven to be very successful to analyze the pollen surface peculiarities. The significant goal of this research was to perform microscopic examination of pollen of some of the most frequently visited honeybee floral species around apiaries. Micro-morphological characterization of frequented honeybees foraged plants were discussed. A total of 15 species, belonging to 11 different families were identified for the foraging activities of honeybees, namely, Lantana camara, Jatropha integerrima, Helianthus annuus, Tecoma stans, Lagerstroemia indica, Duranta erecta, Cosmos sulphureus, Hymenocollis littoralis, Moringa oleifera, Cestrum nocturnum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Volkameria inermis, Catharanthus roseus, Malvastrum coromandelianum, and Citharexylum spinosum. The microscopic slides were prepared using the acetolysis method, and the qualitative and quantitative features were measured and described using microscopic tools. The pollen type sculpture varies from psilate scabrate to echinate and colpi from tricolpate to tetracolpate. Quantitative parameters such as polar diameter, mesocolpium distance, equatorial dimensions, aperture size, spine diameter, and exine thickness were calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics 20. The exine thickness was measured at its maximum in C. roseus (3.85 μm), whereas it was at its minimum of 0.90 μm in L. indica and D. erecta. Pollen fertility was estimated to be highest in H. annus (88%). The current research validates scanning microscopic features of pollen of the honeybee floral species, which is helpful for the accurate identification and commercializing of honey production to generate revenue for beekeepers through the exploration of bee floral diversity. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Pollen spectrum examination using microscopic imaging techniques. Variations examined through scanning microscopy in pollen ultrastructure. Micro-morphology has taxonomic value for accurate identification of honeybee flora. Authentication of Honeybee floral species for sustainable beekeeping.
使用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）工具对微观形态特征进行了显微观察分析，该工具已被证明在分析花粉表面特性方面非常成功。本研究的重要目标是对养蜂场周围一些蜜蜂最常采蜜的花卉物种的花粉进行显微检查。讨论了蜜蜂频繁觅食植物的微观形态特征。共鉴定出11个不同科的15种植物参与了蜜蜂的觅食活动，即马缨丹、琴叶珊瑚、向日葵、黄钟花、紫薇、假连翘、硫黄菊、滨海希蒙得木、辣木、夜香树、银胶菊、无刺苦藤、长春花、赛葵和刺桐。使用醋酸分解法制备显微玻片，并使用显微工具测量和描述定性和定量特征。花粉类型的纹饰从光滑粗糙到具刺不等，萌发孔从三沟型到四沟型。使用IBM SPSS Statistics 20计算了诸如极轴直径、沟中距离、赤道尺寸、萌发孔大小、刺直径和外壁厚度等定量参数。外壁厚度在长春花中最大（3.85μm），而在紫薇和假连翘中最小，为0.90μm。向日葵的花粉育性估计最高（88%）。当前的研究验证了蜜蜂采蜜花卉物种花粉的扫描显微特征，这有助于准确识别和将蜂蜜生产商业化，通过探索蜜蜂采蜜花卉的多样性为养蜂人创造收入。研究亮点：使用显微成像技术进行花粉谱检查。通过扫描显微镜检查花粉超微结构的变化。微观形态对准确识别蜜蜂采蜜植物群具有分类学价值。对蜜蜂采蜜花卉物种进行鉴定以实现可持续养蜂。
