biology
Article
Harvest Season Significantly Influences the Fatty Acid
Composition of Bee Pollen
Saad N. Al-Kahtani
1
, El-Kazafy A. Taha
2,
* , Soha A. Farag
3
, Reda A. Taha
4
, Ekram A. Abdou
5
and Hatem M Mahfouz
6
Citation: Al-Kahtani, S.N.;
Taha, E.-K.A.; Farag, S.A.; Taha, R.A.;
Abdou, E.A.; Mahfouz, H.M Harvest
Season Significantly Influences the
Fatty Acid Composition of Bee Pollen.
Biology 2021, 10, 495. https://
doi.org/10.3390/biology10060495
Academic Editor:
Alessandra Durazzo
Received: 2 May 2021
Accepted: 28 May 2021
Published: 2 June 2021
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1
Arid Land Agriculture Department, College of Agricultural Sciences & Foods, King Faisal University,
P.O. Box 400, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; salkahtani@kfu.edu.sa
2
Department of Economic Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University,
Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
3
Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tanta,
Tanta 31527, Egypt; soha.farag@agr.tanta.edu.eg
4
Agricultural Research Center, Bee Research Department, Plant Protection Research Institute,
Dokki, Giza, Egypt; reda0164184487@yahoo.com
5
Agricultural Research Center, Plant Protection Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, Egypt;
ekram01225967276@gmail.com
6
Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University,
Arish 45511, Egypt; hatemmahfouz@yahoo.com
* Correspondence: elkazafi.taha@agr.kfs.edu.eg
Simple Summary: Harvesting pollen loads collected from a specific botanical origin is a complicated
process that takes time and effort. Therefore, we aimed to determine the optimal season for harvesting
pollen loads rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) from the Al-
Ahsa Oasis in eastern Saudi Arabia. Pollen loads were collected throughout one year, and the
tested samples were selected during the top collecting period in each season. Lipids and fatty acid
composition were determined. The highest values of lipids concentration, linolenic acid (C
18:3
),
stearic acid (C
18:0
), linoleic acid (C
18:2
), arachidic acid (C
20:0
) concentrations, and EFAs were obtained
from bee pollen harvested during autumn. The maximum values (%) of oleic acid (C
18:1
), palmitic
acid (C
16:0
), UFAs, and the UFA/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio were found in bee pollen harvested
during summer. Bee pollen harvested during spring ranked second in its oleic, palmitic, linolenic,
stearic, arachidic, behenic, and lignoceric acid concentrations and for EFAs, UFAs, and the UFA/SFA
ratio. It was concluded that the FA composition of bee pollen varied among the harvest seasons. We
recommend harvesting pollen loads during spring and summer to feed honeybee colonies during
periods of scarcity and for use as a healthy, nutritious food for humans.
Abstract: Seasonal variations in the fatty acid (FA) compositions of pollen loads collected from the
Al-Ahsa Oasis in eastern Saudi Arabia throughout one year were determined to identify the optimal
season for harvesting bee pollen rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) and unsaturated fatty acids
(UFAs). The highest values (%) of lipids, linolenic acid (C
18:3
), stearic acid (C
18:0
), linoleic acid (C
18:2
),
arachidic acid (C
20:0
), the sum of the C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3 concentrations, and EFAs were
obtained from bee pollen harvested during autumn. The maximum values (%) of oleic acid (C
18:1
),
palmitic acid (C
16:0
), UFAs, and the UFA/saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio were found in bee pollen
harvested during summer. The highest concentrations (%) of behenic acid (C
22:0
), lignoceric acid
(C
24:0
), and SFAs were found in bee pollen harvested during winter. Bee pollen harvested during
spring ranked second in its oleic, palmitic, linolenic, stearic, arachidic, behenic, and lignoceric acid
concentrations and for EFAs, UFAs, and the UFA/SFA ratio. The lowest SFA concentration was
found in bee pollen harvested during summer. Oleic, palmitic, and linolenic acids were the most
predominant FAs found in bee pollen. It was concluded that the FA composition of bee pollen varied
among the harvest seasons due to the influence of the dominant botanical origins. We recommend
harvesting pollen loads during spring and summer to feed honeybee colonies during periods of
scarcity and for use as a healthy, nutritious food for humans.
Biology 2021, 10, 495. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10060495 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/biology