**4. Discussion**

The present Melissopalynological study provides new insights into the pollen composition of honey samples from Paderu forest division in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 69 pollen morphotypes from 17 honeys produced by *Apis florea* were identified. Six honeys were considered unifloral honeys because they contained a predominant pollen type (>45%). The dominant of unifloral honeys, without any toxic pollen grains and with scarce fungal elements, suggests that most of the honeys are of good quality and suitable for human consumption.

*Melissopalynological Analysis of Honeys from Paderu Forest Division of Visakhapatnam… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.88908*

The results coincide with the melissopalynological investigation in the peninsular part of India where unifloral honeys are dominant [35]. The diverse flora of India is due to varied climatic conditions in different parts of India. The multifloral source of honeys may be generated by the absence of major ingredients of forest and invasion of secondary forest elements [36]. The Palynological analysis of Paderu forest division honeys reflects that the native flora may be used as a source of good quality honey. In our studied honey-pollen exploration, it is easy to perceive that the honey bee preferred mainly non-arboreal in spring honeys, with the exception of Af-37 as arboreal dominant; *Ageratum conyzoides* is a predominant pollen taxon in three spring samples, *Mimosa pudica*,*Tridax procumbens*, and *Conyza stricta* as secondary pollen taxa. In autumn season also, bees preferred mainly non-arboreal exception of Af-13 and -64 samples, in Af-13 sample as unifloral with *Schleichera oleosa* as predominant pollen taxa.

Based on the above study, bees are preferred mainly on non-arboreal to collect nectar and convert to honey due to the flowering time of the melliferous species; climatic condition and human activities (e.g., farming, reforestation, and forest fires) may be other factors to consider in understanding the presence or absence of some taxa in the pollen spectra of honeys. In recent years, many rural communities have taken up beekeeping as an alternative source of their livelihood strategies. Even the younger generation is showing interest because beekeeping is so easy and simple that anybody can take it as an enterprise. Thus, our melissopalynological investigation may contribute to and favor the possibilities of using rich flora of the studied area in order to develop beekeeping enterprises on a commercial basis, in which self-employment opportunities may be created for many rural communities and develop their livelihood strategies in this area.

### **5. Conclusions**

Paderu (V-P-P-Vm-AF-44, spring collection): the samples is palynologically productive and proved to be unifloral with single predominant pollen taxon, *Mimosa pudica* (69.57%), followed by the important minor pollen types like *Hyptis*

*G. madugula* (V-P-GM-Ak-AF-48, spring collection): the samples proved as multifloral as evidenced by secondary pollen types like *Mimosa pudica* (32.91%), *Conyza stricta* (28.30%), and *Tridax procumbens* (17.81%). The remaining taxa are represented as important minor pollen types like *Pedalium murex* (5.24%), *Hyptis suaveolens* (3.56%), *Saccharum officinarum* (3.18%), *Sida acuta* (3.14%), and *Agera-*

Hukumpeta (V-P-HP-R-AF-51, spring collection): the sample is palynologically proved to be multifloral as evidenced by secondary pollen types, *Eucalyptus globulus* (35.48%) and *Mimosa pudica* (17.41%), followed by important minor pollen types,

Peddabayalu (V-P-PB-L-AF-53, spring collection): the sample procured is pro-

Munchingiputtu (V-P-MUN-Sk-AF-54, autumn collection): the sample proved as multifloral with evidenced of pollen of *Syzygium cumini* (37.63%), *Centipeda minima* (18.70%), and *Mimosa pudica* (18.27%) represented as secondary pollen types. The remaining taxa are represented as important minor pollen types like Urticaceae type

Ananthagiri (V-P-AG-Mt-AF-57, autumn collection): the sample procured is productive and proved as multifloral with pollen of *Syzygium cumini* (26.97%) represented as secondary pollen taxon, followed by the pollen of *Spilanthes calva* (13.40%), *Mimosa pudica* (13.24%), *Centipeda minima* (12.43%), *Cyathocline purpurea* (12.76%), *Leucaena leucocephala* (10.10%),*Tridax procumbens* (5.71%),

Paderu (V-P-P-Rb-AF-64, autumn collection): the sample proved to be multifloral with evidenced by secondary pollen types like *Tridax procumbens* (27.95%), *Schleichera oleosa* (19.88%), and *Erythrina variegata* (16.42%). The remaining taxa are *Eucalyptus globules* (12.96%), *Leucaena leucocephala* (6.34%), Urticaceae type (5.47%), *Cocos nucifera* (4.32%), *Amaranthus spinosus* (3.45%), and

*Dendrophthoe falcata* (3.21%) recollected as important minor pollen types.

Peddabayalu (V-P-PB-L-AF-65, autumn collection): the sample procured is productive and proved as multifloral with pollen of *Mimosa pudica* (41.0%), *Schleichera oleosa* (26.61%), and *Dendrophthoe falcata* (19.42%) identified as secondary pollen types, followed by single-pollen taxon *Hakea laurina* (12.97%) as important minor

The present Melissopalynological study provides new insights into the pollen composition of honey samples from Paderu forest division in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 69 pollen morphotypes from 17 honeys produced by *Apis florea* were identified. Six honeys were considered unifloral honeys because they contained a predominant pollen type (>45%). The dominant of unifloral honeys, without any toxic pollen grains and with scarce fungal elements, suggests that most of the honeys are of good quality and suitable for human consumption.

*Hygrophila auriculata* (14.83%), *Cocos nucifera* (11.61%), *Borassus flabellifer*

ductive and proved as multifloral with pollen of *Syzygium cumini* (41.82%), *Centipeda minima* (18.87%) recorded as secondary pollen types, followed by the pollen of *Mimosa pudica* (14.59%), *Vernonia cinerea* (11.08%), and Urticaceae type

(11.82%), *Vernonia cinerea* (7.74%), and *Tridax procumbens* (5.84%).

and *Vernonia cinerea* (5.39%) as important minor pollen types.

*suaveolens* (14.56%) and *Conyza stricta* (13.59%).

*Modern Beekeeping - Bases for Sustainable Production*

(10.96%), and *Cucumis sativus* (9.71%).

(6.80%) as important minor pollen types.

*tum conyzoides* (3.14%).

pollen taxon.

**4. Discussion**

**60**

The analysis of the pollen content of Paderu forest division in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh honey samples indicates that the local flora may be used as a source of good quality honey. The overall preponderance of non-arboreal in most of the honeys reflects that the honey bees prefer to visits to collect nectar. The scarce appearance of pollen from nectar-less plants such as *Amaranthaceae*, *Cyperaceae*, and *Poaceae* indicates that they were trapped in the hive incidentally by wind or were inadvertently transported by honey bees. And apiculture may enhance honey production in floristically rich province of Paderu forest division in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh and adjoining areas, when job opportunities may be created for many developing rural communities of this state.
