The Animal Biology

Development of technology and doses of native and immobilized invertase in beekeeping

I. F. Bezpalyi¹, V. O. Postoienko², S. V. Merzlov¹, L. P. Korol-Bezpala¹

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

¹Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University,
8/1 Soborna sq., Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region, 09117, Ukraine

²HSC “Institute of Beekeeping named after P. I. Prokopovich”,
19 Zabolotnoho str., Kyiv, 03680, Ukraine

The increased sucrose content of acacia honey is associated with the influence of two factors that restrain the intensity of the disaccharide breakdown process. On the one hand, this is an insufficient invertase activity of the pharyngeal glands in worker bees, and on the other hand, nectar consists mainly of sucrose. According to National Standard of Ukraine 4497:2005, natural honey from white acacia should contain no more than 10% sucrose, but very often beekeepers violate the technology of honey collection and an insufficiently mature product is pumped out. Such honey is not allowed for sale. To avoid such consequences, the use of the enzyme preparation invertase at the stage of the nectar maturation process will contribute, it will make it possible to obtain a product with a lower mass fraction of sucrose. This invertase preparation is used as a food additive in the confectionery industry as a technological tool for the production of invert syrup from sucrose solutions. However, the available information in printed sources on the use of artificial invertase and its effect on the breakdown of disaccharide in beekeeping has not been sufficiently studied. The article investigates the methods of introducing an enzyme preparation into the body of bees for processing nectar. The doses of native and immobilized invertase in beekeeping have been determined. It has been experimentally established that the best way to introduce invertase is to add the enzyme directly to the cells of the combs before placing them in the nests for filling with nectar. Application of 0.2% milk whey powder in syrup stabilizes and prolongs the effect of the enzyme in the honeycomb. The optimal dose of enzyme introduction into the honeycomb is 2–3 mg per 50 mg of syrup with 0.2% milk whey powder.

Key words: native invertase, immobilized invertase, honey, white acacia, enzyme, sugar syrup, milk whey powder

1. Ahanyn AV. Honey and its research. Saratov, Saratov University Publishing House, 1985: 152 p. (in Russian)
2. Aumeeruddy MZ, Aumeeruddy-Elalfi Z, Neetoo H, Zengin G, Blom van Staden A, Fibrich B, Lambrechts IA, Rademan S, Szuman KM, Lall N, Mahomoodally F. Pharmacological activities, chemical profile, and physicochemical properties of raw and commercial honey. Biocat. Agricult. Biotechnol. 2019; 18: 101005. DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2019.01.043.
3. Brovarskyi VD, Brindza Y, Otchenashko VV, Povoznikov MH, Adamchuk LO. Methods of research in beekeeping. A textbook. Kyiv, Vinichenko Publishing House, 2017. 166 p. (in Ukrainian)
4. Ceksteryte V, Racys J. The quality of syrups used for bee feeding before winter and their suitability for bee wintering. J. Apicult. Sci. 2006; 50 (1): 5–14. Available at: http://www.jas.org.pl:81/The-quality-of-syrups-used-for-bee-feeding-before-winter-and-their-suitability-for-bee-wintering,0,75.html
5. Galatuyk А, Tihonova Т, Lazareva L, Shtangret L, Shapoval G, Koval О, Galatuyk О. Determination of invertase and diastase contents for the assessment of honey quality. Ukr. Black Sea Region Agr. Sci. Mykolaiv, 2013; 4 (75): 48–54. Available at: https://visnyk.mnau.edu.ua/n75v4r2013t2c1galatyuk (in Ukrainian)
6. Invertase (sucrose). Enzim Biotech. Available at: https://invertase.enzim.biz
7. Lichtenberg-Kraag B. Evidence for correlation between invertase activity and sucrose content during the ripening process of honey. J. Apicult. Res. 2014; 53 (3): 364–373. DOI: 10.3896/IBRA.1.53.3.03.
8. Merzlov SV. Immobilization of exogenous phytase with the participation of domestic natural minerals and the use of the obtained feed additive in the diets of broiler chickens. Sci.-Tech. Bull. Inst. Anim. Biol. SCIVP Vet. Med. Prod. Feed Add. 2009; 10 (3): 229–232. (in Ukrainian)
9. National Standard of Ukraine 4497-2005. Natural honey. Specifications: Kyiv, Derzhspozhyvstandart Ukrainy, 2005. 36 p. (in Ukrainian)
10. Postoenko V, Lazareva L, Iaremchuk A. The main indicators to measure the quality and safety of honey bee in Ukraine and their harmonization with EU requirements. East Eur. Sci. J. 2019; 12 (52): 14–21. (in Ukrainian)
11. Razanov SF, Bezpalyi IF, Bala VI, Donchenko TA. Technology of beekeeping production. Kyiv, Agrarian Education, 2010: 277 p. (in Ukrainian)
12. Sahin H, Kolayli S, Beykaya M. Investigation of variations of invertase and glucose oxidase degrees against heating and timing options in raw honeys. J. Chem. 2020; 1: 5398062. DOI: 10.1155/2020/5398062.
13. Sak-Bosnar M, Sakač N. Direct potentiometric determination of diastase activity in honey. Food Chem. 2012; 135 (2): 827–831. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.05.006.
14. Simpson J, Riedel IBM, Wilding N. Invertase in the hypopharyngeal glands of the honey bee. J. Apicult. Res. 1968; 7 (1): 29–36. DOI: 10.1080/00218839.1968.11100184.
15. Taran SI. Honey productivity and invertase activity of Ukrainian bees. SNAU Bull. Livestock. Sumy, 2014; 2/2 (25): 98–102. (in Ukrainian)
16. Ukrainets AI, Shtanheeva NI, Klymenko LS. Technologies of sugar products and sugar substitutes. A textbook. Kyiv, NUKhT, 2009: 231 p. (in Ukrainian)
17. Winter H, Huber SC. Regulation of sucrose metabolism in higher plants: localization and regulation of activity of key enzymes. Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 2000; 35 (4): 253–289. DOI: 10.1080/10409230008984165.
18. Winter H, Huber SC. Regulation of sucrose metabolism in higher plants: localization and regulation of activity of key enzymes. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 2000; 19 (1): 31–67. DOI: 10.1080/07352680091139178.
19. Zherebkyn MV. Invertase activity and medical productivity. Beekeeping. 1970; 11: 10–11. (in Russian)