Pollen analysis of the honeys which are produced from Adapazarı region

Pollen analyses of honey samples have been carried out in July, August, September and October of the year 2005 from 65 different regions in Kaynarca, Kocaali, Karasu, Söğütlü, Ferizli, Hendek, Sapanca, Karapürçek, Pamukova, Geyve, Akyazı and Taraklı districts of Sakarya province. Number of pollens in 10 grams of each of those specimens (TPS 10 g) and plant taxa of those pollens have been determined. 30 of them in family and 21 of them in species level; in total pollens of 51 taxa have been identified in honeys of Adapazarı. Most of those pollens belong to Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Plantaginaceae, Poaceae and Cistaceae family. Castanea sativa, which is one of the natural plants of the region, is the taxon which has the highest ratio of pollens in honey. 11 of 65 honey specimens have been identified as unifloral (originated from a single flower) honey since they only have dominant and minor pollen. 10 of the unifloral honeys have been identified as Castanea honey, 1 of them as Cynoglossum honey. The remaining 54 honey specimens have been determined as multifloral (originated from various flowers). In general honeys of Adapazarı region have been determined as multi-plant originated. As a result of pollen analyses Castanea sativa, Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Cynoglossum and Rhododendron pollens have been determined as dominant in 25, 5, 4, 3 and 3 specimens respectively and Xanthium, Cistus, Hedysarum, Ranunculaceae, Rhamnaceae and Scrophulariaceae pollens have been determined dominant in one piece of specimen. Taxa with a secondary amount are Fabacae in 13 specimens; Castanea sativa in 6 specimens; Rosaceae in 4 specimens; Salix in 4 specimens; Rhododendron in 3 specimens; Rhamnaceae in 3 specimens; Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Cistus, Lamiaceae, Plantago, Scrophulariaceae in 2 specimens and Helianthus, Xanthium, Boraginaceae, Echium, Hedysarum, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Ranunculaceae and Rumex in one specimen. As a result of the analyses performed, Castanea sativa have been identified as the main nectar and pollen source in honeys of the region. Fabaceae family has been determined as the second and Rosaceae family as third taxon those has the most pollens. Besides those Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae and Lamiaceae are the taxon sources for honeys of the region. In addition as a result of pollen analyses Rhododendron pollens are seen in various amounts in 32 honey specimens. It has been determined that TPS-10 g of honey specimens of Adapazarı varies between 3 859 and 3 347 771. When grouped according to TPS-10 g amounts; 8 of 65 honey specimens have been determined as very rich (TPS 500.000- 1.000.000), 18 of them as rich (TPS 100 000-500 000), 18 of them as normal (TPS 20 000-100 000), and 21 of them as poor (TPS<20 000) taking number of pollens into consideration.