Provider: - Institution: - Data provided by Europeana Collections- Bioraznolikost medonosnih biljnih vrsta iz različitih klimatsko-zemljopisnih područja Hrvatske pruža veliki potencijal za proizvodnju specifičnih vrsta meda. Međutim, peludni spektar, kao i kemijske značajke većine hrvatskih vrsta meda nedovoljno su poznati. U jednu od vrsta meda, koja nije sustavno istraživana, ubraja se i med od metvice (Mentha spp.). Stoga je cilj istraživanja bio utvrditi botaničko podrijetlo i profil isparljivih spojeva iz sadržaja mednog mjehura u odnosu na med od metvice te skupljačku aktivnost pčelinje zajednice na paši metvice. Istraživanje je bilo provedeno na pokusnoj lokaciji Mahovo (područje Parka prirode Lonjsko polje) na pet pokusnih pčelinjih zajednica sive pčele (Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann, 1879), gdje je praćena skupljačka aktivnost pčelinje zajednice i posjećenosti pčela na paši metvice. Analiza sadržaja mednog mjehura i peludnog tereta provedena je prema metodi Soehngen i Jay (1974). Na prikupljenim je uzorcima meda, zatim, sadržaju mednog mjehura i peludnom teretu provedena kvalitativna melisopalinološka analiza. Od fizikalno-kemijskih analiza bilo je provedeno utvrđivanje udjela vode, električne provodnosti i pH vrijednosti. Analiza isparljivih spojeva provedena je pomoću mikroekstrakcije vršnih para na krutoj fazi (HS-SPME) i ultrazvučne ekstrakcije organskim otapalima (USE) na uzorcima meda i sadržaju mednih mjehura. Od analiziranih skupljačica najveći je udio bio onih koje su skupljale nektar (1 774), zatim one koje su skupljale pelud (1 190), a najmanje onih kod kojih je utvrđen puni medni mjehur i peludni teret. U ranim popodnevnim satima (14:00) je utvrđen statistički značajno veći broj skupljačica s punim mednim mjehurom, kao i s peludnim teretom u usporedbi sa skupljačicama prikupljenim u 9:00 i 18:00. Prosječna se masa sadržaja mednog mjehura kretala od 9,58 do 12,22 mg s rasponom od 0,20 do 50,60 mg. U uzorcima pčela skupljenih u 9:00 sati bila je utvrđena statistički značajno niža prosječna masa sadržaja mednog mjehura (9,02 mg) u odnosu na uzorke prikupljene u 18:00 (11,06 mg) i one prikupljene u 14:00 (12,04 mg). Prosječna se masa peludnog tereta kretale od 4,77 mg do 9,60 mg, a raspon se kretao od 0,10 mg do 31,70 mg. U uzorcima pčela skupljenih u 9:00 sati utvrđena je statistički značajno niža masa peludnog tereta (7,73 mg) u odnosu na uzorke prikupljene u 14:00 (8,63 mg), dok između skupljačica prikupljenih u 9:00 i 18:00 te 14:00 i 18:00 nije bila utvrđena statistički značajna razlika. Obzirom na posjećenost pčela paši metvice utvrđeno je da je statistički značajno manji broj pčela bio utvrđen u 18:00 sati (20,08) u odnosu na broj pčela u 10:00 (30,22) i 13:00 sati (36,50). Prema utvrđenom peludnom spektru u analiziranim uzorcima meda, uz mirisnu metvicu (M. pulegium), kao prateće biljne vrste bile su utvrđene zlatošipka (S. gigantea), amorfa (A. fruticosa), pitomi kesten (C. sativa) i smiljkita (L corniculatus). Iz analiziranih uzoraka skupljačica utvrđeno je da je u njihovim peludnim teretima utvrđen udio od 37,82% metvice, od kojih je veći udio bio podrijetlom od mirisne metvice (20,42%) u odnosu na samo 1,93% peludi od vodene metvice (M. aquatica). U uzorcima meda, prosječni je udio vode iznosio 17,3 % s rasponom od 14,5 do 18,8%, zatim je električna provodnost iznosila 0,62 mS/cm s rasponom od 0,37 do 0,75 mS/cm te se je pH vrijednost kretala u rasponu od 3,52 do 4,15 s prosjekom od 3,80. Na osnovu analize isparljivih spojeva u uzorcima meda su po intenzitetu izdvojeni metil-siringat i vomifoliol, dok je u ekstraktu mednih mjehura, uz navedene spojeve, utvrđen još i 3,7-Dimetilokta-1,5-dien-3,7-diol (terpendiol I). Također, analizom vršnih para, kao najzastupljeniji spojevi, utvrđeni su hotrienol, 2-metoksi-4metilfenol, cis- i trans-linalol oksidi, linalol i nerol oksid.- Nectariferous plants biodiversity from different climatic and geographical areas of Croatia (Pannonian, Mountain and Adriatic) offers a great potential for the production of specific types of honey. The diversity that we have in climazonal and biocenological schedule represents a unique national treasure that is in Europe rarely found. However, due to nonsystematic research, pollen spectrum and chemical properties of most Croatian honeys are poorly understood. One of the honey types which is not systematically researched is mint (Mentha spp.). According to available literature on European unifloral honeys, mint honey belongs to rare types. Therefore the aim of this study was to characterize the mint honey through determination of botanical origin (pollen spectrum) and content of the honey sac and certain physical and chemical parameters (water content, electrical conductivity and pH value). The second goal was to determine the profile of volatile compounds in the honey sac content, as well as the end product, honey. At the same time, one of the study goals was to investigate the behaviour of bees on mint nectar flow through the foraging activity of bee colonies. The research was conducted at the experimental site Mahovo, which is located in the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park. Five experimental colonies of Carniolan (Apis mellifera carnica Pollmann, 1879) bees in standard Langstroth-Root (LR) colonies were located at the selected location. Gathering activity of honey bee colonies was conducted by sampling from each colony three times a day (9:00, 14:00 and 18:00) for six days. Monitoring of the foraging on the mint field was conducted on the five separate plots of 1 m2 by counting bees for 1 min on the either side of the plot three times a day (10:00, 13:00, and 18:00) for 30 minutes during six days. Analysis of the honey-sac content and pollen loads was carried out according to the method of Soehngen and Jay (1974). Qualitative melisopalinological analysis of collected samples of honey, honey-sac content and the pollen loads was conducted according to the methodology of von der Ohe et al. (2004). From the physicochemical analyses, water content, electrical conductivity and pH were performed. Analysis of volatile compounds was performed using solvent-free headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and ultrasonic solvent extraction (USE) in the honey samples and the honey sac content. From the totally analysed 8 721 workers, 2 992 have brought nectar, pollen, or both, while 5 471 returned to the hive without load. From analysed foragers that delivered load, the main portion was of those who have gathered nectar (1 774), then those who have gathered pollen (1 190), but the least those with honey and pollen load, which implies that most foragers are specialized in collecting either nectar or pollen. Statistically higher number of foragers with nectar or pollen load were determined in the early afternoon (14:00) compared with foragers collected in 9:00 and 18:00. The average weight of honey-sac content ranged from 9.58 to 12.22 mg with a range of 0.20 to 50.60 mg. Significantly lower average weight of honey-sac content (9.02 mg) was determined in collected samples of bees at 9:00 o’clock compared to samples collected at 18:00 (11.06 mg) and 14:00, when average weight of 12.04 mg was determined. In the largest group of foragers weight load was ≤ 10 mg, followed with group with load from 11 to 20 mg, and at the least number of bees collected ≥ 31 mg load. Average weight of pollen load was from 4.77 to 9.60 mg, with range of 0.10 to 31.70 mg. In the group of foragers collected at 9:00 o’clock statistically lower pollen load weight (7.73 mg) was determined in comparison to samples collected at 14:00 (8.63 mg). Contrary, between groups collected at 9:00 and 18:00 as well as at 14:00 and 18:00 o’clock difference was not significant. Regarding attendance of bees to mint flowers, statistically lowest number of bees was determined at 18:00 o’clock (20.08) in comparison to count at 10:00 (30.22) and 13:00 knowledge of the behaviour of bees foraging on mint. In addition to the scientific value of the results, this study provides a contribution in practical terms, because they indicate preliminary actions to be undertaken for the timely preparation of colonies for the main pasture. At the same time, the original data on the profile of mint honey volatile compounds can be used as potential biomarkers to determine its botanical origin. Keywords: honeybee colony foraging activity, honey sac, pollen load, mint (Mentha spp.) honey, pollen spectrum, volatile compounds (36.50) o’clock. According to pollen spectrum, accompanying plants to Mentha pulegium were Solidago gigantea, Amorfa fruticosa, Castanea sativa and Lotus corniculatus. From pollen loads of collected foragers it was determined that 37.82% samples contain mint pollen, from which most part (20.42%) is from pennyroyal (M. pulegium) in comparison to 1.93% of water mint (M. aquatica). Apart from mint pollen, additional 13 plant species were determined in the pollen loads, and the most frequent were Daucus carota, Salvia spp, Ranunculus spp., Inula britanica, Plantago lanceolata, Solidago gigantea, Amorfa fruticosa and Centaurea spp. The average water content was 17.3% with a range from 14.5 to 18.8%. Electrical conductivity was 0.62 mS/cm and the range from 0.37 to 0.75 mS/cm. pH value was in range from 3.52 to 4.15 with the average of 3.80. Based on the volatile compounds analysis of the honey-sac content, the most intensive were 3 compounds: 3.7-dimethylocta-1.5-dien-3.7-diol (terpendiol I), followed by methyl syringate and vomifoliol. In the extract of analysed honey samples were also 3.7dimethylocta-1.5-dien-3.7-diol (terpendiol I). Also, by the analysis of major honey headspace compounds hotrienol, cis- and trans-linalool oxides, linalool and neroloxide were determined. Valuable scientific contribution of the dissertation results from the first time connection of the honey-sac content and the end product of honey, from monitoring of pollen spectrum changes and the knowle