Elazığ İli Propolis ve Arı Poleni Örneklerinin Palinolojik Analizi

Propolis is a product created by worker bees to seal openings in the hive and protect against the harmful effects of foreign substances. It is made by collecting resins from the buds of trees and branches, carrying them in baskets on their hind legs, mixing them with beeswax and pollen, and adding glandular secretions. Propolis is obtained by scraping it from the frames in the hive. Bee pollen, on the other hand, is formed when honey bees collect pollen from flowers and mix it with saliva and nectar. It is used as a nutrient in every stage of the bees' development in the hive due to its high protein content. Bee pollen is formed into pellets by the bees, and beekeepers collect it in hive drawers using traps. Both bee products have been used by humans for thousands of years from an ethnobotanical perspective. Today, in addition to their traditional use, their medical importance is also emphasized in academic studies. The medical importance of these bee products depends on their biochemical content, and their botanical origin determines their biochemical content. For this reason, it is necessary to determine their botanical origin. Pollenological studies reveal which plants bees use in the formation of propolis and bee pollen. Within the scope of this study, propolis and bee pollen samples obtained from local beekeepers in Elazığ Province in 2022 were prepared under laboratory conditions and analyzed palynologically using microscopic methods. As a result, the plant species preferred by bees in the production of propolis and bee pollen in Elazığ Province were identified. In addition, the findings provide guidance for beekeepers in determining suitable locations for establishing apiaries based on the identified plant species. Moreover, due to the high pollination capacity of honey bees, increasing agricultural yield from economically valuable crops is possible through the establishment of apiaries near cultivation areas. In this context, identifying the plant species preferred by honey bees constitutes a valuable data source for agricultural producers in Elazığ and in regions with similar climatic conditions.