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Digestion of protein of two pollen types in China by the honeybee (Apis mellifera L)

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Abstract

Different pollens have varying nutritional value for the honeybee. However, the digestion of the protein in the pollen is still not well understood. Here, we investigated this issue using a rectum-testing method. The results indicated that a higher proportion of the protein in camellia pollen is digested compared with the protein in rape pollen. Chemical and histochemical analyses indicated that protein digestion is closely associated with the diet that a worker bee consumes. Our results demonstrate that camellia pollen has a higher nutritive value than rape pollen for honeybees. By influencing midgut development, different bee diets cause discrepancies in digestive and absorptive functions, which are ultimately reflected by differences in protein digestion.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Li, X. Y., Liu, Z. H., Sun, R. J., Zhang, G. L. and Zhang, G. J. for assistance. This research was financially supported by the earmarked fund for the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-45) and the Special Fund for Agro-Scientific Research in the Public Interest (no. 200903006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’ an, Shandong, 271018, China

    Ying Wang, Lan-Ting Ma, Xiao-Bo Hang, Wei-Ren Yang, Feng Liu & Bao-Hua Xu

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  1. Ying Wang
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  2. Lan-Ting Ma
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  3. Xiao-Bo Hang
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  4. Wei-Ren Yang
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  5. Feng Liu
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  6. Bao-Hua Xu
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Correspondence to Bao-Hua Xu.

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Manuscript editor: Klaus Hartfelder

Digestion de la protéine de deux types de pollen par les abeilles ( Apis mellifera ) en Chine

Valeur nutritionnelle / pollen / camélia / colza / mécanismes de la digestion

Verdauung der Proteine von zwei Pollentypen aus China durch die Honigbiene ( Apis mellifera )

Apis mellifera / pollen / proteinverdau / mechanismus

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Wang, Y., Ma, LT., Hang, XB. et al. Digestion of protein of two pollen types in China by the honeybee (Apis mellifera L). Apidologie 45, 590–600 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-014-0278-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-014-0278-1

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