Palynotaxonomical study of honeybees (Apis mellifera var. adansonii) forage and/or preference plants in South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

The disputed issues of higher plant taxonomy and phylogeny are greatly impacted by pollen morphology because pollen grains have clear distinctive characteristics that are typically labeled. Palynotaxonomical study of Honeybees preference plants in South-Western Nigeria were conducted between the months of May, 2019 and June 2021 using fresh polleniferous materials which were extracted through acetolysis methods. Results showed that ninety-two (92) plant species belonging to thirty-six (36) plant families of apicultural importance most visited by honeybees (Apis mellifera var. adansonii) were documented. At x100 magnification, thorough morphological studies were performed, and the results showed that pollen grains from plant species in the family Asteraceae were spinolous and spherical in shape; those from the Fabaceae sub-families Caesalpinoideae, Mimosoideae, and Papilionoideae, on the other hand, had a great deal of morphological diversity with variations in symmetry, position and distribution. Those of the families Malvaceae was echinate and Myrtaceae were colporate; syncolpate and prolate respectively. However, the variations above were generally reduced within species in the same genera. Tricolpate aperture type was observed in the genus Euphorbia; giving reason for their classification in the same genera. The genus Combretum was all heterocolpate, circular in shape and heteroporate. Sculpturing was psilate or scabrate and pollen shape class were sub-prolate, oblate-spheroidal or prolate spheroidal. Similar form and symmetry observed in all the species studied were reason for their classification into the same family. The study revealed that the flowering period for most of these honeybees’ forage plants were between the months of October to March. Identification, propagation, cultivation, conservation, and sustainable exploitation of these honeybee (Apis mellifera var. adansonii) forage and preference plants would be beneficial in potentially increasing the efficiency of apiculture and commercial cultivation in South-Western Nigeria.