Bee Research Group Identify and Characteristics of Oil Palm Pollen Pollen

Indonesia’s biodiversity with alternating spring seasons throughout the year greatly supports the success of the beekeeping business. However, recently the area for crops as a source of bee food has been decreasing, especially in Java. 

Plants that have a mutual symbiosis have the potential to be a source of bee food and gain pollination benefits, namely oil palm. Bees that are in the environment of oil palm plants get pollen or pollen as food. On the other hand, bees also function as pollinators of oil palm plants. 

However, there is not much data available regarding the characteristics and quality of oil palm pollen as bee feed. Reading this opportunity, the bee research group of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry Universitas Brawijaya (Fapet UB) identified the characteristics of oil palm pollen and its contents. It is hoped that the identification of characteristics in the form of morphology and pollen content can be used as a reference for studying the classification of oil palm plants and the properties of pollen as potential animal feed for honey bees.

The team involved included Dr.Ir. Sri Minarti, MP., IPM.,ASEAN Eng (chair), consisting of Prof. Dr. Ir. Mochammad Junus, MS., Prof. Dr. Ir. Lilik Eka Radiati, MS, IPU, ASEAN Eng., and Firman Jaya, S.Pt, MS.      

The research sample used was pollen from oil palm plants (Elaeis guineensis) belonging to partner plantations in the city of Jambi. Meanwhile, the data collection method was carried out by observing the morphology of the shape, color, size, and structure of the pollen using a microscope. Then the determination of the nutritional content and the dominance of pollen in the honey bee nest using proximate analysis. (dta)