Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The comparison of Zantaz honey samples harvested in Morocco in two different years was performed through
chemometric analysis of routinely assessed parameters. The objective was to study how the pollen profile of this
newly reported honey shapes its physicochemical characteristics as well as to determine its monoflorality
threshold, which has not yet been defined. The predominance of B. spinosum pollen was confirmed in the majority
of samples reaching 45%, generally requested for monoflorality declaration. The principal component
analysis (PCA) was used for clustering and variables correlations. Pollen qualitative and quantitative differences
could discriminate the samples belonging to both seasons when combined with the sugar analysis (59.44%)
better than the combination with physicochemical parameters (pH, acidity, ash content, electrical conductivity
and color) (60.62%). Positive correlation between the presence of B. spinosum pollen and melanoidins, color,
fructose, moisture, trehalose, melezitose, iron, manganese and calcium could be seen. Integrating all the parameters
except the pollen data allowed distinguishing two groups with significant differences (P < 0.05) in B.
spinosum representability (58 ± 11.24% against 40 ± 15.98%). This may suggest that 40% is the monoflorality
threshold of the Moroccan Zantaz honey, although a confirmation with sensorial analysis is required.
Description
Keywords
Bupleurum spinosum Melissopalynology Monoflorality threshold Principal component analysis
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Elamine, Youssef; Lyoussi, Badiâa; Anjos, Ofélia; Estevinho, Leticia M.; Aazza, Smail; Carlier, Jorge D.; Costa, Maria C.; Miguel, Maria G. (2019). Zantaz honey “monoflorality”: chemometric applied to the routinely assessed parameters. LWT - Food Science and Technology. ISSN 0023-6438. 106, p. 29-36