Preliminary communication
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Pollination as an Ecological Method to Increase the Quality of Lavender Essential Oil
2023, 88 (1) p. 85-88
Abstract
The essential oil of lavender is important worldwide. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of pollination by honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) as an ecological method to increase the quality of the essential oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.). Fifteen components were determined in the essential oil samples tested and included in this study. Three groups of organic compounds were found: Terpenes, Terpenoids and Ketones. The percentages of the major chemical components in the essential oil of bee-pollinated lavender plants are: linalool - 30.7%, linalyl acetate - 30.3%, lavandulyl acetate - 5.2% and terpinen 4-ol - 6.5%, whereas these results from unpollinated lavender plants are as follows: linalool - 25.5%, linalyl acetate - 27.6%, lavandulyl acetate - 4.4% and terpinen 4-ol - 5.5%. Importantly, statistically significant differences were found when comparing the results of these essential oil components. It was found that the essential oil of the pollinated plants contained more than 5% linalool and almost 3% more linalyl acetate. These two ingredients were the most important components of lavender essential oil. The experimental study showed a higher content in the essential oil of the pollinated lavender plants for nine of the fifteen components examined.
Keywords
honey bees, pollination, lavender, essential oil, ecology
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