Las Indicaciones Geográficas (IG) son herramientas utilizadas para agregar valor y para proteger y reconocer la calidad diferencial de un producto como consecuencia de la influencia ambiental y territorial. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en determinar los perfiles físicoquímicos, melisopalinológicos y de azúcares, además de marcadores químicos de mieles monoflorales de Citrus limon producidas en Tucumán-Argentina, para el desarrollo de la IG “Miel de azahar de limón de Tucumán”. Se analizaron muestras cosechadas entre agosto y octubre de 2016, 2017 y 2018. Se estableció que además de Citrus limon, la especie de polen más frecuente fue la del tipo Salix. Esta miel es de color muy claro (≤ 30 mm Pfund), ligeramente ácida (≤ 20 meq.kg-1), con valores de humedad de 15 a 19 g/100 g, baja actividad diastásica (≤ 27 unidades Gothe), HMF (≤ 3,0 mg.kg-1) y conductividad eléctrica (≤ 0,32 mS.cm-1). El color se correlaciona inversamente con la cantidad de polen de Citrus limon. El perfil de azúcares mostró mayor contenido de fructosa que glucosa, sacarosa y maltosa, y una tendencia intermedia a la cristalización. La hesperidina se detectó y cuantificó fácilmente en todas las muestras. El contenido de metil antranilato fue mucho menor que la referencia internacional para mieles de cítricos y además, no se detectó en algunas muestras. Por lo tanto, debería ser un indicador complementario y la hesperidina podría usarse en su lugar como un marcador químico de autenticidad.

Increasing resistance toward the available antibiotics by various microbial diseases pushed veterinarian to think about alternative therapies. Propolis is a natural compound well known since ancient times for its therapeutic effects and has been employed in traditional veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of 12 propolis ethanolic extracts (PEEs) from different provinces of Northern Argentina and evaluate their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus strains isolated from canine otitis. Thirteen compounds (eight flavonoids, two chalcones and three phenolic acids) were identified by TLC, spectrophotometric methods and HPLC-DAD. PEEs were effective against Staphylococcus strains. The highest antibacterial activities were found in samples from Tucuman province. All propolis samples were considered bacteriostatic and the selection of resistant phenotypes did not occur in presence of Argentinean-PEE. Results of the present study indicate that propolis extracts might be an effective alternative against canine otitis-causing S. aureus strains in vivo.

Se estudió la presencia de zearalenona en pasturas y alimentos que son utilizados para la producción de bovinos de carne de la zona este de la provincia del Chaco. Asimismo, se realizó el aislamiento e identificación de diversas especies de Fusarium y se determinó su capacidad de producir zearalenona en condiciones de laboratorio. La determinación química de la toxina se realizó mediante las metodologías HPLC y ensayo inmunoenzimático (ELISA). Se analizaron 29 muestras y en 17 de ellas se confirmó la ocurrencia natural de zearalenona en cantidades variables. Se identificaron 63 aislamientos que correspondieron a Fusarium cf. acuminatum, F. chlamydosporum, F. equiseti, F. oxysporum y F. semitectum, confirmándose además la producción in vitro de zearalenona en 34 de éstos aislamientos.

Adequate protein levels are necessary to maintain strong honey bee [ Apis mellifera (L.)] colonies. The aim of this study was to quantify how pollens with different crude protein contents influence protein stores within individual honey bees. Caged bees were fed one of three diets, consisting of high-protein-content pollen, low-protein-content pollen, or protein-free diet as control; measurements were made based on protein content in hemolymph and fat body, fat body weight, and body weight. Vitellogenin in hemolymph was also measured. Bees fed with high crude protein diet had significantly higher levels of protein in hemolymph and fat bodies. Caged bees did not increase pollen consumption to compensate for the lower protein in the diet, and ingesting approximate to 4 mg of protein per bee could achieve levels of 20 mu g/mu l protein in hemolymph. Worker bees fed with low crude protein diet took more time in reaching similar protein content of the bees that were fed with high crude protein diet. The data showed that fat bodies and body weight were not efficient methods of measuring the protein status of bees. The determination of total protein or vitellogenin concentration in the hemolymph from 13-d-old bees and protein concentration of fat bodies from 9-d-old bees could be good indicators of nutritional status of honey bees.

American foulbrood (AFB), caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae is a serious disease of honey bees worldwide that inflicts considerable economic losses on beekeepers. The aim of this investigation was to determine the spread of AFB in a commercial apiary headed by queens selected for hygienic behaviour (HB), and to estimate the agreement between microbiological methods for the isolation of P larvae from honey samples (HS) or bee samples (BS). All work was undertaken in a commercial apiary that showed visual signs of AFB infection. Hives positive for AFB were isolated from the apiary and the queens of the remaining hives replaced by others selected for HB. The prevalence of AFB was then recorded by monitoring visual signs of the disease, and via the isolation of P larvae spores from HS and BS. The hives showed no clinical signs of AFB although HS testing showed 50% to harbour P larvae spores after one year. This percentage decreased to 26% by the end of the study. The spore loads of the HS and BS were low (between 0.33 and 5 CFU/plate for HS and 0.33 and 12 CFU/plate for BS). No agreement was seen between the two microbiological isolation methods as assessed by the Kappa coefficient (P > 0.05). Sixty percent false negatives were recorded for the HS method. The BS method was more sensitive and is the best option for the early diagnosis of AFB; this, plus the use of HB lines may be sufficient for the control of this disease.

We selected honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) with a high tendency to collect sunflower pollen and estimated the heritability of this trait. The percentage of sunflower pollen collected by 74 colonies was evaluated. Five colonies that collected the highest percentages of sunflower pollen were selected. Nineteen colonies headed by daughters of these selected queens were evaluated for this characteristic in comparison with 20 control (unselected) colonies. The variation for the proportion of sunflower pollen was greater among colonies of the control group than among these selected daughter colonies. The estimated heritability was 0.26 +/- 0.23, demonstrating that selection to increase sunflower pollen collection is feasible. Such selected colonies could be used to improve sunflower pollination in commercial fields.

Argentinean propolis is exported to different countries, specially Japan. The market demands propolis quality control according to international standards. The analytical determination of some metals, as lead in food, is very important for their high toxicity even in low concentrations and because of their harmful effects on health. Flavonoids, the main bioactive compounds of propolis, tend to chelate metals as lead, which becomes one of the main polluting agents of propolis. The lead found in propolis may come from the atmosphere or it may be incorporated in the harvest, extraction and processing methods. The aim of this work is to evaluate lead level on Argentinean propolis determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) and UV–vis spectrophotometry (UV–visS) methods, as well as the effect of harvest methods on those contents. A randomized test with three different treatments of collection was made to evaluate the effect of harvest methods. These procedures were: separating wedges (traditional), netting plastic meshes and stamping out plastic meshes. By means of the analysis of variance technique for multiple comparisons (ANOVA) it was possible to conclude that there are significant differences between scraped and mesh methods (stamped out and mosquito netting meshes). The results obtained in the present test would allow us to conclude that mesh methods are more advisable than scraped ones in order to obtain innocuous and safe propolis with minor lead contents. A statistical comparison of lead determination by both, ET AAS and UV–visS methods, demonstrated that there is not a significant difference in the results achieved with the two analytical techniques employed.

Se analizaron 40 muestras de miel provenientes de las subregiones de Las Sierras y Las Encadenadas de la cuenca del Salado, provincia de Buenos Aires. Estas fueron procesadas y analizadas cualitativamente, según técnicas melitopalinológicas convencionales. Se identificaron 25 tipos morfológicos de polen. En la subregión de Las Sierras se encontraron mieles monoflorales de Eucalyptus sp. y Helianthus annuus. Las mieles multiflorales se caracterizaron por la asociación de polen de Eucalyptus, Helianthus annuus, Brassicaceae y como acompañantes tréboles, Lotus sp., y Medicago sp.. La asociación Eucalyptus sp., Helianthus annuus, y Centaurea solstitialis caracterizaría a las mieles multiflorales de la subregión de Las Encadenadas. En esta, se encontraron mieles monoflorales de Condalia y Helianthus annuus.

The efficacy of formic acid in a gel matrix was evaluated in two groups of honeybee colonies. In Group 1, a dispenser with 120 g of formic acid (70%) in gel was placed on the brood combs and another dispenser with the same dose was located on the hive bottom (total dose, 240 g). Group 2 received two doses of 240 g of formic acid (70%) in gel and each application was applied in two dispensers containing 120 g of the formic acid solution each and they were located over the brood chamber (total dose, 480 g). In Group 2, the period between both applications was 15 days, and the efficacies after the first and both applications were calculated. Significant differences were registered for final efficacy between both groups. When final efficacy of Group 1 was compared with efficacy after first application of Group 2, significant differences were found (P=0.0005). Same doses in different positions within the hive have different final efficacy. The higher efficacy was registered when the dispensers were placed over brood combs and on the hive bottom. It is suggested that efficacy is related to dispenser position within the hive.

Se ha desarrollado un método rápido y preciso, para la determinación de concentraciones residuales de oxitetraciclina en miel, realizando una doble extracción con acetona y HPLC fase reversa en modo isocrático con detector UV. El límite de cuantificación fue de 0,05 mg/g, y la recuperación de la droga en este nivel fue del 90%

Resumen es: Se ha desarrollado un metodo rapido y preciso, para la determinacion de concentraciones residuales de oxitetraciclina en miel, realizando una doble ext...

The acaricidal effects and adult bee toxicity of Heterotheca latifolia essential oil on Varroa jacobsoni mites were evaluated. The oil was prepared its an emulsion and applied oil the varroa females and oil adult bees by pulverization in Burgerjon's tower.Varroa lethality test was determined by 3%, 4% and 5% concentrations. The active ingredient was sprayed oil the mites placed in groups of 10 on filter papers placed oil a plastic dish. As controls, distilled water and water with the emulsifier were used. After spraying, mites were placed in an incubator at 33degrees +/- 1degreesC, and 70% RH. At these concentrations (3%, 4% and 5%) the oil showed a high mite mortality, while in the control group (water and water + emulsifier) the mortality was lower. Significant differences between control groups and tested groups were observed (p<0.05).At the highest concentrations (5%) H. latifolia oil did not show bee toxicity. Significant differences between control and tested groups were not observed (p>0.05).These results suggested that H. latifolia oil might play an important role in this honeybee parasitosis management.

Honeybee defensive behavior is a useful selection criterion, especially in areas with Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L). In all genetic improvement programs the selected characters must be measured with precision, and because of this we evaluated a metabolic method for testing honeybee defensive behavior in the laboratory for its usefulness in distinguishing between honeybee ecotypes and selecting honeybees based on their level of defensive responses. Ten honeybee colonies were used, five having been produced by feral queens from a subtropical region supposedly colonized by Africanized honeybees and five by queens from a temperate region apparently colonized by European honeybees. We evaluate honeybee defensive behavior using a metabolic test based on oxygen consumption after stimulation with an alarm pheromone, measuring the time to the first response, time to maximum oxygen consumption, duration of activity, oxygen consumption at first response, maximum oxygen consumption and total oxygen consumption, colonies being ranked according to the values obtained for each variable. Significant (p < 0.05) differences were detected between ecotypes for each variable but for all variables the highest rankings were obtained for colonies of subtropical origin, which had faster and more intense responses. All variables were highly associated (p < 0.05). Total oxygen consumption was the best indicator of metabolic activity for defensive behavior because it combined oxygen consumption and the length of the response. This laboratory method may be useful for evaluating the defensive behavior of honey bees in genetic programs designed to select less defensive bees.

SUMMARYHoney bee (Apis mellifera) colonies exhibiting clinical symptoms of American foulbrood (AFB, causative agent Paenibacillus larvae larvae) were divided into 2 groups that received different shaking treatments: (1), shaking adult bees into a new hive; and (2), shaking adult bees in front of the entrance to a new hive. Honey bee and honey samples were taken before shaking and 1, 22, 44 and 66 days after shaking. Microbiological cultures were made from honey and honey bee samples to determine P. I. larvae development. The average number of P I. larvae cfu/g honey before shaking was 89.86 ± 17.93 (x ± s.e.) and more than 500 cfu/bee for honey bee samples. Honey bee samples had more colony-forming units before shaking but differences were not statistically significant after shaking. An important reduction in the number of colony-forming units in honey bee and honey samples was detected after shaking by both methods and no significant difference was detected between them. Honey and honey bee samples were positive for the presence of P. I. larvae in every sampling but no AFB clinical symptoms were detected in the honey bee colonies after 5 months. These results allow us to conclude that both shaking methods reduce spore loads in new colonies without using chemicals and, using them with other management procedures would allow development of an integrated AFB control method.

A study of sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., pollen collection by Africanized and European honey bees, Apis mellifera L., was conducted in a hybrid seed production field in Argentina. Africanized honey bees collected significantly larger proportions of sunflower pollen than did European honey bees. The result suggests that Africanized bees would be more efficient for commercial sunflower seed production.