Possibile influenza di piccoli appezzamenti di lavanda sulla produzione di miele in ambiente montano ( S. Germano Chisone -Torino).

ABSTRACT Italy is a country with a great variety of microclimates and habitats. Throughout the country the flora is extremely diverse, and therefore particularly interesting in terms of beekeeping, with the production of multifloral and unifloral honeys. The different species of lavender have a significant interest for bees, so that in France, in Provence and in particular in the area of the Var, where there are extensive cultivation, there is the production of very fine unifloral honeys. In Italy, lavender honey are rare and result mainly from a Mediterranean species, Lavandula stoechas. The objective of this work is to verify the possible influence of a small piece of lavender on honey production of two beehives, located in the mountains of Val Chisone at 1000 o.s.l., with forests mainly composed of lime and chestnut trees. For the test were carried out on terraces, small crops of Lavandula angustifolia Mill, spontaneous species already present in Val Chisone, with 110 plants, and Lavandula hybrida Rev. (105 plants), for a total of 215. The attractiveness of lavender for bees in the specific environment, was analyzed using special camp cards; was followed in parallel the frequency of bees on the other flowers of the area. Furthermore, to assess the suitability of the farming location for bees were made periodic visits to the two hives, noting the areas of comb covered with adult bees, brood, honey and pollen.The last phase of the study was conducted in the laboratory, with melissopalinological physicochemical, and organoleptical analysis on three samples of honey produced in the two experimental hives. honey product in the vicinity, an honey of the province of Cuneo and French lavender defined, to verify the type of product obtained in Val Chisone, as well as the honey attributed to Lavandula spp. as floral origin. The frequency of bees on lavender during the growing season was generally high (20 bees / m2.), Indicating a preference for this flower only visited for nectar. In the pollen spectrum of Val Chisone honeys were not found pollen of lavender. The prevalent pollen forms are: Castanea sativa, Tilia, Rubus gr., Trifolium repens gr., Prunus. Among the set of lavender honey only a sample of French presented pollen grains of this plant (0.98%), while the sample from the province of Cuneo had the highest content (2.37%), prevalent pollens were Brassica, Rubus and Trifolium repens gr. The gustatory and olfactory sensory analysis did not reveal the components in the bouquet of aromas of lavender in Val Chisone honeys, emphasizing instead a strong presence of lime and chestnut. This suggests that, as can easily understandable, the cultivated area has not been sufficient to change the characteristics of the honey produced, taking into account the strong prevailing characterization of lime and chestnut nectars. Considering the Val Chisone honeys, the first result of linden unifloral, two are mixed lime and chestnut and fourth multifloral. Among the set of lavender honey the champion of Cuneo, is arguably more satisfying declared origin, but the other two, bought in France, have expressed, especially in the sensory analysis, a good compliance with this floral source. The area chosen for the test has proven its usefulness for the production of fine lime honey.