Physicochemical characteristics of bee honeys (Apis mellifera L.) under different storage conditions.

Estudou-se o armazenamento de méis de abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera L.) coletados no brejo e cariri do estado da Paraíba. Utilizou-se, quanto à florada, dois tipos de mel de abelha (mel de florada silvestre e mel de florada de baraúna), armazenados sob 3 diferentes condições de embalagens (El - recipiente de polietileno opaco e exposto à luz e temperatura ambiente; E2 - recipiente de polietileno exposto à temperatura ambiente e ao abrigo da luz; E3 - recipiente em vidro translúcido exposto à temperatura e luz ambiente), ao longo de 180 dias, tendo sido estes submetidos a análises físico-químicas mensalmente, com a finalidade de observar as possíveis alterações nas características físico-químicas (°Brix, Umidade, Cinzas, Hidroximetilfurfural-HMF, Açúcares redutores, Sacarose aparente, Atividade diastásica e pH), objetivando verificar a eficiência destas embalagens no índice de qualidade dos méis. As análises físico-químicas dos méis foram feitas seguindo o recomendado pela Instrução Normativa do Ministério da Agricultura e do Abastecimento (Brasil, 2000). Os valores médios encontrados, ao longo do Armazenamento, para o °Brix do mel silvestre ficaram no intervalo de variação de 78,03 a 78,42 °Brix e o da florada de baraúna de 81,31 a 81,63 °Brix e não houve diferença significativa entre as embalagens ao longo do armazenamento. Os níveis de Umidade (%) para os méis silvestres e de baraúna foram 19,48 a 20,48 % e 16,25 a 16,70 %, respectivamente. Os valores Cinzas e de Sólidos Insolúveis não apresentara diferenças significativas no tempo e/ou nas embalagens. Os níveis no índice de HMF ficaram no intervalo de variação de 4,57 a 10,17 mg/kg de mel e 1,08 a 7,12 mg/kg, no mel Silvestre e no mel de baraúna, respectivamente. Pelas análises estatísticas, verificou-se, para os dois méis, diferença significativa a 1% de probabilidade e que as médias diferem entre si. Houve para o HMF, diferença significativa entre as embalagens e a E2 foi a mais eficiente no controle do aumento deste índice nos dois méis estudados. Os valores médios de Açúcares Redutores ficaram entre 74,09 e 76,41 % no mel Sivestre e entre 62,51 e 64,80 % para o mel de baraúna. Os valores de Sacarose Aparente ficaram entre 2,18 a 3,01 % para o mel silvestre e entre 2,40 e 2,89 % no mel de baraúna. Os méis sofreram pequena variação no tempo e as embalagens não influenciaram sobre a sacarose, nos dois méis. A Atividade Diastásica (DN) no mel Sivestre ficou no intervalo de variação de 13,37 a 18,71 DN e 9,14 a 13,25 DN no mel de baraúna. As análises estatísticas para os dois méis foram significativas ao nível de 1% de probabilidade e no teste de Tukey, as médias diferiram entre si, e a embalagem E2, nos dois méis analisados, mostrou-se mais eficiente na desaceleração do índice de Diástase em relação a El e E3. Quanto ao pH, o mel Sivestre foi mais ácido (3,42 a 3,55) do que o mel de baraúna (3,85 a 4,15). Todas as amostras encontram-se dentro dos padrões exigidos pelo Ministério da Agricultura e do Abastecimento. Do resultado final, concluiu-se que houve maior eficiência na embalagem E2, que contribuiu para a desaceleração do ritmo no índice de diástase. Observou-se que o índice de acidez livre aumentou ao longo do armazenamento.The storage of african bees honeys (Aipis mellifera L.) which were collected from slough and cariri in Paraíba state was studied. Considering the bloomed, two kinds of bee honey (wild bloomed honey and baraúna bloomed honey) were used and storaged under three different conditions of packages ( Ei - opaque polyethylene container, that was under environment light and temperature; E2 - polyethylene container that was under environment temperature but it wasn't under light environment; E3 - translucent glass container which was exposed to environment temperature and light). These honeys stayed 180 days in packages and their physiochemical characteristics were analysed monthly to observe the possible alterations of them ( 0 Brix, Humidity, Ashes, Hydroximethylfurfurol - HMF, Reducers Sugar, Apparent Saccharose, Diastasic Activity and pH) to verify the efficiency of these packages in the honeys qualities index. The physiochemical analyses of the honeys were done according to the Normative Instruction of the Agriculture and Provisioning Ministry (Brazil, 2000). During the storage time, the médium found values to the 0 Brix of the wild bloomed honey were between 78.03 and 78.42 0 Brix and the ones of the baraúna bloomed honey were between 81.31 and 81.63 0 Brix and there wasn't significant difference among the packages during the storage period. The Humidity rates (%) were between 19.48 and 20.48% to the wild honey and between 16.25 and 16.70 to the baraúna honey. There were no significant differences of the Ashes and Insoluble Solids values on their time and packages. The rates in the HMF index varied from 4.57 to 10.17 mg/Kg of honey and from 1.08 to 7.12 mg/Kg, to the wild and baraúna honeys, respectively. According to the statistics analyses, a significant difference of 1% of probability for both honeys was verified, besides the averages are different among them. To the HMF, there was a significant difference among the packages and the E2 was the most efficient to the control of the increase of this index in both studied honeys. The médium values of the Reducers Sugar were between 74.09 and 76.41% to the wild honey and they were between 62.51 and 64.80% to the baraúna honey. The Apparent Saccharose values were between 2.18 and 3.01% to the wild honey and they were between 2.40 and 2.89 to de baraúna honey. The honeys had a little time variation and the packages had no influence on the saccharose, in both honeys. The Diastasic Activity (DN) on the Wild honey varied from 13.37 to 18.71 DN and the variation of the baraúna honey was from 9.14 to 13.25 DN. The statistics analyses were significative at 1% of probability and at the Tukey test for both honeys, the averages were diferent among them and the E2 package was more efficient than the Ei and E3 to the unacceleration of the diástase index for both honeys. Analysing the pH, the wild honey was more acid (3.42 to 3.55) than the baraúna honey (3.85 to 4.15). Ali the samples are according to the Agriculture and Provision Ministry patterns. According to the final result, it's conclued that there was a bigger efficiency of the E2 package and it contributed to the rhythm unaceleration in the distasic index. It was observed that the free acidity index increased during the storage period