Pollen analysis of Düzce province

In this study, 34 honey samples were collected from Düzce province and its districts (Akçakoca, Cumayeri, Çilimli, Gölyaka, Gümüşova, Kaynaşlı, Yığılca) between 2019-2020 and pollen analysis was carried out in the samples. A total as 109 taxon including 20 in family, 69 in genus and 20 in species level, were identified in Düzce honey. Most of these pollen belong to the family of Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae, Ericaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Plantaginaceae, Poaceae and Rosaceae. Castanea sativa from the which is one of the natural plants of the region is a taxon which has the highest ratio of pollens in the honeys. 12 of the 34 honey samples have been identified as monofloral (originated from a single flower) honeys. Of the monofloral honeys, 8 were determined as Castanea sativa, 3 as Rhododendron ponticum and 1 as Ailanthus sp. honey. The remaining 22 honey samples have been determined as polifloral (originated from various flower) honeys. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the family with the highest taxa diversity in honey was Asteraceae with 17 samples, Rosaceae with 11 samples from the second family and Fabaceae with 9 samples from the third family. Keywords: Düzce Honey, Melissopalynology, Pollen analysis