Palynological and physicochemical characterization of honey from Butia yatay palm savannas in Argentina

Abstract

Butia yatay palm savannas (palmares de yatay) of Eastern Argentina constitute a unique natural and cultural landscape threatened by land conversion. Honey production, as a non-timber forest product, can become a conservation-through-use strategy for this landscape if shown to be a valuable product. Therefore, here we describe palynological and physicochemical parameters of honey obtained from hives situated in one of the remaining largest Butia yatay palm savannas in Entre Rios, Argentina, during the palms’ blooming peak. Melissopalinological analysis showed that three pollen types (Myrtaceae type, Butia yatay, and Eryngium horridum) accounted for 88–96% of the total pollen counted. Palm pollen was consistently present in all the analyzed samples as secondary pollen regarding its frequency with an average of 33.5% of the total pollen counted. This honey presented high proline content, high conductivity, a color range from light amber to amber, significant polyphenol bioactivity, and rheologically behaved as a Newtonian fluid. This is the first instance of producing and characterizing honey from this peculiar botanical and geographical origin, thus contributing to Argentinian efforts to hierarchize regional and local honey types. It is also the first report of Butia yatay palms as a significant nectar source for honey production.