Melissopalynological investigation of Tetragonula sapiens honey from Lombok Island, Indonesia

Abstract

This research aims to determine pollen diversity in Tetragonula sapiens stingless honey on Lombok Island, Indonesia. Analysis was carried out by melissopalynological investigation of nine samples of T. sapiens honey collected from nine locations with different altitudes (24-620 meters above sea level (MASL)). Standard methods for melissopalynological analysis carried out pollen extraction from honey. Based on melissopalynological investigations, it was found that eight honey samples were multifloral with the secondary pollen types including Artocarpus altilis, Arenga pinnata, Cocos nucifera, Muntingia calabura, Coffea sp., Ageratum conyzoides, and Galinsoga parviflora. Meanwhile, one honey sample obtained at Setiling village with 620 MASL of altitude was unifloral, with Arenga pinnata as the dominant pollen. The diversity of pollen in honey for several locations varies between 37 to 71 types of pollen. The results of this research may provide recommendations for improving the variety of nectar and pollen-producing plants suited for T. sapiens bees, especially for sustainable animal husbandry on Lombok Island. This research identified 147 types of pollen in honey belonging to 64 families. For lowland areas, A. altilis and C. nucifera are suitable. Meanwhile, M. calabura and Coffea sp. are suitable for midland areas, while A. pinnata and A. conyzoides are suitable for highland areas.