Abstract

ALBORES-FLORES, Víctor et al. Physicochemical characterization, antioxidant and antifungal activity of three stingless bee pollen aggregate (Apidae: Meliponini) from Soconusco, Chiapas. Rev. mex. fitopatol [online]. 2021, vol.39, n.1, pp.41-60.  Epub May 07, 2021. ISSN 2007-8080.  https://doi.org/10.18781/r.mex.fit.2009-4.

Plants-bees interaction can generate bee-hive products with different physicochemical, bioactive and antimicrobial composition. Therefore, in this study we determined the physicochemical composition of pollen aggregates collected from 12 stingless bee-hives established in Chiapas, Mexico, from three different municipalities: Tapachula, Mazatán and Cacahoatán, and with three different species: Melipona beecheii, Scaptotrigona mexicana and Tetragonisca angustula. We also evaluated the effect of pollen aggregate extracts on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides growth. Our results showed differences in the physicochemical composition based on bee species. Pollen from M. beecheii registered the highest phenol content, flavonoids, and free acidity. These results, and the obtained from the antioxidant capacity (Trolox), glucose and pH, were associated with in vitro C. gloesporioides growth. The fungus radial growth rate during the nine-day study was 0.013-0.009 mm h-1 with pollen extracts, which was equivalent to 44% lower value than chlorothalonil. The antifungal activity of pollen extracts depends on bee species; for M. beecheii we registered 65 and 37%, for T. angustula 57 and 16%, and for S. mexicana 60 and 30%, which were higher than the chlorothalonil fungicide.

Keywords : Interaction; inhibition; hive products; pollen aggregate; stingless bees.