Isolation and identification of bacterial flora of stingless bee (Tetragonula biroi Friese) honey, pollen provisions and adult bee gut / by Jose Mari Deunida Cerrero.

Thesis (BS Biology) Cavite State University

Includes bibliographical references.

College of Arts and Science (CAS)

CERRERO, JOSE MARI DEUNIDA. Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Flora of Stingless Bee (Tetragonula biroi Friese) Honey, Pollen Provisions and Adult Bee Gut. Undergraduate Thesis, Bachelor of Science in Biology Major in Microbiology, Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite, May 2017. Adviser: Prof. Michele T. Bono
This study was conducted to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of the hive, honey and pollen provisions in CVSU, Brgy.Alulod and Brgy. Daine, Indang, Cavite; determine the bacterial count of the honey and pollen from the three sites and compare the bacterial counts of the honey and pollen collected from the three sampling sites; isolate and identify the bacteria present in the honey, pollen, and adult bee gut of the stingless bees located in CVSU — Meliponiary, Brgy. Alulod and Brgy. Daine, Indang, Cavite; and determine the relationship between the physico-chemical properties of the honey, pollen and hives and the bacterial count.
The results of the different physico-chemical parameters showed that T. biroi honey varies as follows: pH (3.70 - 4.2), moisture content (36.08 - 50.6%), and sugar content (67.95 - 73.15 Br). Pollen physicochemical parameters also vary as follows: pH (3.67 - 4.18) and moisture content (28.45-42.08%). The temperature inside the stingless bee hive is at 25.55-29.75 oc and the relative humidity is at 62-87.5%
The highest bacterial count in pollen plated on Nutrient Agar was observed in Brgy. Alulod and lowest in CVSU — Meliponary, with a range of 2.10 x 103 to 9.98 x 103 CFU/g. As for honey samples, the highest count recorded was in CVSU — Meliponary while the lowest was in Brgy. Alulod with a range of 2.83 x 103 to 7.49 x 103 CFU/mL
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For the groups of bacteria observed, Lactic Acid Bacteria has the highest count ranging from 1.27 x 103 to 10.45 x 10.45 x 103 CFU/mL. Enterobateriaceae has a bacterial count ranging from 0 to 1.76 x 103 CFU/mL and Staphylococcus sp. has the lowest bacterial count from 0.09 x 103 to 0.77 x 103 CFU/mL
The isolated bacteria falls under the genera Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Lactobacillus and lactic acid bacteria. Bacillus sp. and lactic acid bacteria were common to all of the samples. Lactic Acid Bacteria was the most dominant group found in the honey, pollen provisions and adult bee guts. This suggests functional importance of these organisms in the processing of honey and pollen provisions in the hives.
The pH and sugar content of the honey samples have a moderate to high correlation to all groups of bacteria isolated. Similarly, the temperature of the hives has negligible to very high correlation to all groups of bacteria. Moisture content of the honey sample has no correlation to the bacteria isolated from Nutrient Agar and has a negligible correlation to the genus Staphylococcus. The pH of the pollen samples have no correlation with Enterobacteriaceae bacteria. All physico-chemical parameters of the hives and samples have moderate to high correlation to the lactic acid bacteria.

Submitted copy to the University Library. 08/03/2017 T-6872