The effects of different levels of vitamin E on Performance and reproductive traits of Iranian honeybee (Apis mellifera meda) coloniesVitamins constitute an important subject in honey bee nutrition and are necessary for brood development. Vitamin E is one of the most essential vitamins for the majority of herbivorous insects such as honey bee, and plays an important role in its life. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of its various

Authors

1 MSc. student of Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

2 Honey Bee Department, Animal Science Research of Iran, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Animal Science of Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Vitamins constitute an important subject in honey bee nutrition and are necessary for brood development. Vitamin E is one of the most essential vitamins for the majority of herbivorous insects such as honey bee, and plays an important role in its life. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of its various level of vitamin E on population size, honey production and best stability winter in honey bee colonies in 3 step experimental in Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Karaj Honey Bee fraction were studied. In this experiment after making the uniform colonies in spring for population, brood area and food accumulation. Equalization of colonies for stored honey and stored pollen were repeated in spring. In late April four concentrations of vitamin E in sugar syrup (20, 30 and 40ppm) were given to colonies in a Complete Randomized Design with 4 treatments and 4 replication, Adult population and honey production were evaluated and obtained data have been analyzed by SAS software, PROC ANOVA and were grouped by Duncan’s test.
Experiment first step on April (abound pollen), second step on July (deficiency pollen) and third step on January (absence pollen) completed.
In first step for measurement same population during 30 days, feeding of colonies was carried out every 5 days and received one liter of syrup in each time, second step for measurement honey production and third step for same stability winter.
Obtained results showed a significant difference in honey production (P < 0.05) and significantly different on adult population (P < 0.05). Although adult population did differ significantly among treatments and the results showed that the colonies fed with various levels of this vitamin, especially 30 PPM level, had high population in comparison with other colonies. Population average was significantly correlated with Honey production. Honey production was affected significantly by vitamin E 30 ppm.
According to the results we can say if the proper levels of vitamin E supplemented in honeybee nutrition can increase queen laying and population.

Keywords

Honeybee Science Journal
Volume 08, Issue 14
July 2017
Pages 2-12

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