Determination of the physiological and behavioral characteristics of different honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) races/eco types and the quality of their honey in Bingol conditions

This study; It was carried out with the aim of determining some behavioral and physiological characteristics of different honey bee genotypes used extensively by beekeepers in Bingöl province, and also to determine the most suitable honey bees for the region by performing physicochemical and melissopalynological analyzes of the honey obtained from these honey bee genotype in this study; in 2022, the Bingöl exhibited the best performance in terms of wintering ability (58.6%) and brood area (2820.51±971.82 cm2/colony). The Camili showed the best performance in terms of the average number of frames with bees (7.06±3.27 units/colony), colony weight (30.92±11.00 kg/colony), and honey yield (15.97±1.57 kg/colony). In 2023, the Bingöl demonstrated the best performance in wintering ability (71.4%), while the Camili excelled in the number of frames with bees (8.82±0.20 units/colony), brood area (3470.70±758.18 cm2/colony), average colony weight (32.05±11.30 kg/colony), and honey yield (17.30±2.46 kg/colony). During the study, it was determined that the Camili genotype had the highest survival rate (70%), the highest hygienic behavior (98.79%) in the Bingöl genotype and the highest aggressive behavior (8.88±2.43 units/colony) in the Camili genotype. In honey obtained from genotypes in 2022; It was determined that Camili had the highest moisture and HMF, Posof had the highest proline and diastase, Carniol had the highest ash, water insoluble matter, fructose, glucose and maltose, and Bingöl had the highest electrical conductivity, pH and free acidity. Sucrose was not detected in 2022 honey. In the honey of the genotypes in 2023; It was determined that Camili had the highest pH, free acidity and HMF values, Posof had the highest sucrose values, Carniol had the highest moisture, electrical conductivity, ash, water insoluble matter and glucose values, Bingöl genotype had the highest proline, diastase, fructose and maltose values. When the melissopalynological analysis results of genotype honeys are examined; in 2022, the highest proportion of honey bee genotypes will be Verbascum sp. It was determined that they visited the taxon. According to pollen analysis in 2023, Lamium sp. in Camili and Posof honeys, Trifolium sp. in Carniol honeys. and Astragalus sp. in Bingöl honeys. It was determined that pollination of the taxon was at secondary level. According to TPS-10 g analyzes in 2022 and 2023, it was determined that the honey with the highest pollen count belonged to the Carniole genotype.