Annual Development Performance of Fixed Honeybee Colonies Linked with Chemical and Mineral Profile of Bee Collected Pollen.

Climate change affects plant phenology and, as a result, can damage nectar and pollen sources, which are the basic needs of bees during flowering. This situation creates nutritional stress for bee colonies in the region. Changing climatic conditions, the use of agricultural lands adversely affects honeybees and beekeepers. The aim of this study is to determine the annual development performance of fixed honeybee colonies linked with the chemical and mineral profile of bee collected pollen. According to the research findings, in terms of colony development parameters, the number of bee frames (9.17) was found to be at the highest level in May, and in terms of brood area (4652.35 cm2 ) in April (P<0.05). March, April, and May are the most abundant months in terms of pollen collection of the colonies (P<0.05). The pollen samples collected are rich in potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, silicon, and iron. There are differences between months in terms of pollen sources and mineral levels. Especially in stationary beekeeping, additional feeding is required during critical periods. The existing flora is insufficient for the future of the honey bee. In periods when the flora is weak, important plants for the honey bee should be grown in the region.

Physicochemical Quality Characteristics of Southeastern Anatolia Honey, Turkey.

This study was performed to investigate the physicochemical quality characteristics of honey produced in Southeastern Anatolia of Turkey. A total of 68 honey samples collected from different beekeepers were analyzed for sugar components, moisture, pH, HMF, electrical conductivity, free acidity, proline values, and diastase number using the methods recommended by the International Honey Commission. The color value was determined by the Hanna HI 96785 color identification device using the Pfund scale. The mean values of fructose + glucose, fructose/glucose ratio, sucrose, and maltose were 70.97 ± 3.27%, 1.21 ± 0.15, 0.90 ± 1.35%, and 2.88 ± 1.42%, respectively. The moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, free acidity, diastase number, proline, and HMF values were 15.91 ± 1.05%, 4.10 ± 0.73, 0.21 ± 0.04 mS/cm, 14.94 ± 6.81 meq/kg, 10.68 ± 4.61, 420±, 174 mg/kg, and 18.5 ± 31.43 mg/kg, respectively. All of the samples met the international standards and legal limits set in Turkey for fructose + glucose, sucrose, moisture, electrical conductivity, and free acidity, whereas 20.58%, 25%, 10.29%, and 8.82% of the samples did not meet the standards and legal limits for the diastase number, proline value, HMF value, and fructose/glucose ratio, respectively. It has been considered to be important to raise awareness of the producer about good production practices and to ensure continuity of inspections for high-quality honey production.

Changes in the Physico-chemical and Microbial Quality during the Production of Pastirma Cured with Different Levels of Sodium Nitrite.

Pastirma, a dry-cured meat product, is produced from the whole muscle and/or muscles obtained from certain parts of beef and water buffalo carcasses. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of different levels of sodium nitrite on changes in the physicochemical and microbial quality during the production of pastirma. The changes in residual nitrite, salt, pH, moisture, thiobarbutiric acid reactive substances (TBARS), colour (L*, a*, b*), total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Micrococcus/Staphylococcus (M/S), mould-yeast (M-Y), and Enterobacteriaceae counts of pastirma with 0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm sodium nitrite were determined during the production. The nitrite levels and the production stages had significant effects (p<0.01) on residual nitrite, TBARS, pH, salt, and colour values. The TBARS values of the pastirma with nitrite were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the control. The final TAMB, LAB, M/S, and M-Y counts of pastirma with 150 ppm nitrite were significantly (p<0.05) lower than the control. Also, the a* (relative redness) values of control pastirma were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the pastirma with nitrite. The production stages had a significant effect (p<0.01) on the moisture.