Department of Entomology, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan173 230, Himachal Pradesh, India
*Email: mnthakur15@yahoo.com (corresponding author): https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9057-5745
Online Published on 12 July, 2023.
Honey of wild honey bees Apis dorsata and Apis florea was sampled from northern states of India during the year 2018-20 and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters and microbial load using standard procedures and correlation analysis. A. dorsata honey had high moisture content (17.20%), pH (6.25) and F: G ratio (1.98), whereas A. florea honey exhibited higher bacterial loads (3.82) than A. dorsata (3.70). No fungal spores were recorded in any of the honeys analyzed. Significant positive correlation was recorded between colour and pollen density; amino acid content and acidity; Vitamin C and acidity in honey of A. dorsata. Whereas Electrical Conductivity (EC) and pH; amino acid and acidity content in honey of A. florea had significant positive correlation. Bacterial load had significant positive correlation with pH and moisture. The quality parameters were well within the acceptable limit defined by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India.
Honey parameters, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Physico-chemical parameters, Microbial load, Wild honey, Honey quality, Honey bacterial loads, Honey standards, Honey Composition
