Minerals, Carbohydrates and Amino Acids of Pollens from some Woody and Herbaceous Plants

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Abstract
The mineral, carbohydrate, protein, amino acid, lipid and energy contents of the seven main pollens gathered by honey-bees in south-east Scotland were determined. Neither dry matter (mean 73 per cent) nor ash (mean 3 per cent) were very variable. The calcium content of all pollens was relatively similar as were the magnesium, potassium and sodium contents but manganese which was relatively high in ericaceae and phosphorus which was low in Trifolium were more variable. Acer pollen contained most protein and Fagus least, and of the amino acids only serine, cystine and histidine were significantly different in the different pollens. Over 30 per cent of all pollens was a mixture of fructose and glucose, ericaceae containing most and Acer least. Hemicellulose (mean 7 per cent) was high in Ranunculus and low in Acer, cruciferae and Fagus. ‘Cellulose’ (mean 0⋅5 per cent) was high in cruciferae and low in ericacea. Ether extract (mean 5 per cent) was high in cruciferae and Fagus. The mean gross energy of pollen was 23 kJ g−1. Fresh pollen is comparable with lean meat as a source of energy and protein, and is more like dormant plant seeds than herbage in its water, ash and protein content but stores energy as sugar rather than starch or lipid.

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