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Oak (Quercus frainetto Ten.)honeydew without mediation of plant sucking insects in Požega basin (Croatia)

Quercus frainetto Ten. is species oak of the Southeast Europe, part of Italy and the west part of Asia. Western border is in Požega valley region in Croatia, and South Peloponnesus, Greece. Beekeepers from Požega region record that bees readily collect the plant sap on oak. In this area of distribution of the Q. frainetto is recognized as a specific source of honeydew. Growth process of oak fruits is extremely rich in cycles of 5-8 years, and during other years fruit production is standard. process of balance of the number of fruits on each tree is specific. At the natural reduction of overproduction of fruits, the sweet sap from fruits is noticed. Fruit sap starts to flow over cuticle of the fruit often with the foam appearance. Single fruit produces sap for several days, then process starts on another fruit. occurrence of fruit sap in wood area can last up to two month. During honeyflow season in 2003 and 2004 year, with medium to low honeydew honey production in Požega basin, 10 samples of honey were taken for the analysis. According to the results these honeys are not typical honeydew honeys. There are no special honeydew sugars and also electrical conductivity is low. There are also only quite less amounts of honeydew elements in the sediment. The sugar spectra of the oak fruits show high amounts of fructose (30, 4%), glucose (17, 9%), trehalose (26, 9%) and one not identified oligosaccharide (24, 9%). So the high fructose/glucose ratio seems to come from these oak fruit excretions. Histological analysis confirmed that mediation of plant sucking insects do not take part in process of honeydew generating. Probably the physiological process of the plant induces this specific honeydew.

Quercus frainetto; honeydew honey; Požega basin

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