Original scientific paper
THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEEHIVES AND THE ORIGIN OF QUEENS ON THE QUALITY OF HONEY IN CROATIA
Zvonimir Tucak
; Faculty of Agriculture, University of J. J. Strossmayer in Osijek, Croatia
Marin Periškić
; Croatian Veterinary Institute Zagreb, Veterinary Department in Vinkovci, Croatia
Anastazija Konjarević
; Croatian Veterinary Institute Zagreb, Veterinary Department in Vinkovci, Croatia
Abstract
Our research was aimed at determining the extent to which different types of beehives and the origin of queen-bees influence the quality of honey. We used three different types of hives that are most frequently used in beekeeping in Croatia. In each group there were 20 hives with queens of different origin, 10 natural queens, and 10 queens selected for honey production. All hives used were in the same location. Based on the investigation of the influence of different types of hives (AŽ, DB and LR) and queens (natural and selected) we could conclude the following. Hive types had a statistically significant (P<0.05) influence on the degree of acidity in honey (mmol acid/kg). The queen origin had a statistically significant (P<0.05) influence on the activity of diastase. The interaction of investigated factors (hive types and queen origin) had an influence on the activity of diastase (P<0.001), the water insoluble content (P<0.01) and the thermal conductivity of honey (P<0.05). This paper also indicates that the anthropogenic (or human) factor, i.e. the creation of selected queen bees, can cause biological reactions, i.e. changes in the metabolism of individuals, different from reactions of individuals raised in nature.
Keywords
beehive; queen-bee; honey-full plants; honey
Hrčak ID:
26496
URI
Publication date:
26.2.2007.
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