Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Bee Pollen
Seasonal variations in the fatty acid (FA) compositions of pollen loads collected from the Al-Ahsa Oasis in eastern Saudi Arabia throughout one year were determined to identify the optimal season for harvesting bee pollen rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). The h...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/10/6/495 |
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| author | Saad N. Al-Kahtani El-Kazafy A. Taha Soha A. Farag Reda A. Taha Ekram A. Abdou Hatem M Mahfouz |
| author_facet | Saad N. Al-Kahtani El-Kazafy A. Taha Soha A. Farag Reda A. Taha Ekram A. Abdou Hatem M Mahfouz |
| author_sort | Saad N. Al-Kahtani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Seasonal variations in the fatty acid (FA) compositions of pollen loads collected from the Al-Ahsa Oasis in eastern Saudi Arabia throughout one year were determined to identify the optimal season for harvesting bee pollen rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). The highest values (%) of lipids, linolenic acid (C<sub>18:3</sub>), stearic acid (C<sub>18:0</sub>), linoleic acid (C<sub>18:2</sub>), arachidic acid (C<sub>20:0</sub>), the sum of the C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3 concentrations, and EFAs were obtained from bee pollen harvested during autumn. The maximum values (%) of oleic acid (C<sub>18:1</sub>), palmitic acid (C<sub>16:0</sub>), UFAs, and the UFA/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio were found in bee pollen harvested during summer. The highest concentrations (%) of behenic acid (C<sub>22:0</sub>), lignoceric acid (C<sub>24:0</sub>), and SFAs were found in bee pollen harvested during winter. Bee pollen harvested during spring ranked second in its oleic, palmitic, linolenic, stearic, arachidic, behenic, and lignoceric acid concentrations and for EFAs, UFAs, and the UFA/SFA ratio. The lowest SFA concentration was found in bee pollen harvested during summer. Oleic, palmitic, and linolenic acids were the most predominant FAs found in bee pollen. It was concluded that the FA composition of bee pollen varied among the harvest seasons due to the influence of the dominant botanical origins. We recommend harvesting pollen loads during spring and summer to feed honeybee colonies during periods of scarcity and for use as a healthy, nutritious food for humans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:46:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-095183fbe946470596d57aa049953f84 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:46:30Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-095183fbe946470596d57aa049953f842023-11-21T22:32:43ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372021-06-0110649510.3390/biology10060495Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Bee PollenSaad N. Al-Kahtani0El-Kazafy A. Taha1Soha A. Farag2Reda A. Taha3Ekram A. Abdou4Hatem M Mahfouz5Arid Land Agriculture Department, College of Agricultural Sciences & Foods, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Economic Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, EgyptDepartment of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tanta, Tanta 31527, EgyptAgricultural Research Center, Bee Research Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, EgyptAgricultural Research Center, Plant Protection Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, EgyptDepartment of Plant Production, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, Arish 45511, EgyptSeasonal variations in the fatty acid (FA) compositions of pollen loads collected from the Al-Ahsa Oasis in eastern Saudi Arabia throughout one year were determined to identify the optimal season for harvesting bee pollen rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). The highest values (%) of lipids, linolenic acid (C<sub>18:3</sub>), stearic acid (C<sub>18:0</sub>), linoleic acid (C<sub>18:2</sub>), arachidic acid (C<sub>20:0</sub>), the sum of the C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3 concentrations, and EFAs were obtained from bee pollen harvested during autumn. The maximum values (%) of oleic acid (C<sub>18:1</sub>), palmitic acid (C<sub>16:0</sub>), UFAs, and the UFA/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio were found in bee pollen harvested during summer. The highest concentrations (%) of behenic acid (C<sub>22:0</sub>), lignoceric acid (C<sub>24:0</sub>), and SFAs were found in bee pollen harvested during winter. Bee pollen harvested during spring ranked second in its oleic, palmitic, linolenic, stearic, arachidic, behenic, and lignoceric acid concentrations and for EFAs, UFAs, and the UFA/SFA ratio. The lowest SFA concentration was found in bee pollen harvested during summer. Oleic, palmitic, and linolenic acids were the most predominant FAs found in bee pollen. It was concluded that the FA composition of bee pollen varied among the harvest seasons due to the influence of the dominant botanical origins. We recommend harvesting pollen loads during spring and summer to feed honeybee colonies during periods of scarcity and for use as a healthy, nutritious food for humans.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/10/6/495bee pollenhoneybeefatty acidsAl-Ahsaseason |
| spellingShingle | Saad N. Al-Kahtani El-Kazafy A. Taha Soha A. Farag Reda A. Taha Ekram A. Abdou Hatem M Mahfouz Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Bee Pollen Biology bee pollen honeybee fatty acids Al-Ahsa season |
| title | Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Bee Pollen |
| title_full | Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Bee Pollen |
| title_fullStr | Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Bee Pollen |
| title_full_unstemmed | Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Bee Pollen |
| title_short | Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Bee Pollen |
| title_sort | harvest season significantly influences the fatty acid composition of bee pollen |
| topic | bee pollen honeybee fatty acids Al-Ahsa season |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/10/6/495 |
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