POLLEN ANALYSIS OF HONEYS FROM TRABZON (TÜRKİYE)

This study presents the results of pollen analysis on honey samples collected from 85 different locations across all districts of Trabzon, Türkiye, during the months of June to October between 2009 and 2012. A total of 50 pollen taxa were identified, including 23 families, 25 genera, and 2 species. The most dominant pollen type was Castanea sativa, found in 65 samples, reflecting the regional floral characteristics. Lamiaceae was dominant in only one sample. Secondary pollen types commonly observed included Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Carduus, Cistus, Cynoglossum, Fabaceae, Hedysarum, Laurus nobilis, Rhododendron, and Rosaceae. Four samples were classified as monofloral honeys, all identified as Castanea sativa honey. Rhododendron, known for its toxic effects when present above a certain threshold in honey, was detected in 48 samples, indicating the necessity of evaluating these honeys in terms of consumer health. TPN-10 ranged from 2,845 to 1,525,683 per 10 g of honey. Correlation analysis showed that floral diversity increased with altitude, while cluster analysis indicated that total pollen count was the most influential factor in sample classification. These findings underline both the rich botanical diversity of Trabzon honeys and the impact of ecological variables on honey composition.