Evaluation of Enzymatic Activity in the Transformation of Nectar into Honey in Indigenous Rockbee, Apis dorsata F.

Abstract

Enzymes form integral part and play decisive role in biological Systems and metabolic network. The present studies delve on the role of enzymes viz., invertase, amylase, glucose oxidase and catalase in nectar-honey transformation during May 2019 to April 2020. Data on enzymatic activity in all the five stages  related to honey formation from nectar i.e., floral nectar (fn), honey crop of foragers (hf), honey crop of house bees (hh), unsealed honey cells (uh) and sealed honey cells (sh) was evaluated. Invertase in fn and sh cells was found minimum of 0.00 ml and maximum of 42.40 ml, respectively. Similarly, amylase in the fn was least (0.00 ml) and highest in sh (16.01 ml) and catalase was observed to be 0.001 ml in floral nector and highest in sealed honey cells i.e., 16.01 ml and 4.96 ml,respectively. Accordingly, glucose oxidase in fn and sh cells was minimum of 0.00 ml and maximum of 6.68 ml respectively. Correspondingly, catalase in the fn was least (0.00 ml) and highest in sh (4.96 ml).  The analysis of variance of invertase and amylase was significant at 1 % level (p<0.01), whereas glucose oxidase and catalase Were statistically non-significant at 1 % level (p<0.01). Results have confirmed that the sources of all enzymes are instigated from hypopharyngeal, post-cerebral, thoracic, labial and mandibular glands of foragers and house bees which are accountable for honey formation. Further, each enzyme is substrates specific which are discussed in ensuing paper.