Pollen analysis of honeys from Yığılca region (Düzce), Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the plant species preferred by Apis mellifera L., which is a valuable genotype in terms of vitality and high honey production. For this purpose, seven honey samples from Yığılca region in Düzce (Turkey) were examined for pollen analysis. As a result of the pollen analysis on these samples, it was determined that Yığılca local honeybee use pollen grains of 43 different taxa from 26 families. Six samples of honey were unifloral (> 45% pollen of one taxon in sample) with four being unifloral for Rhododendron ponticum and two for Castanea sativa. One sample of honey was classified as multifloral with the percentages of secondary and rare pollen groups. The honeys had contained 14 to 30 different types of pollen. The average number of pollen types per honey was 21. The dominant groups of pollen grains were determined as Rhododendron ponticum in 4 samples and Castanea sativa in 2 samples. Secondary pollen components were from 3 taxa: Fagus orientalis, Rhododendron ponticum and Quercus sp. Four pollen types occurred as ‘minor’ types and pollen grains of 37 taxa were in rare quantities. Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Lamiaceae and Rosaceae were the most represented families in honey samples.