Microscopic Analysis of Propolis Samples Collected from East Anatolia (Kemaliye-Erzincan)

Ömür GENÇAY*^,°, Kadriye SORKUN*
* Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 06532 Ankara, Turkey 

^oCorresponding Author

Summary

The plant choices of honey bees for collecting propolis were investigated by pollen analysis. A total of 30 different propolis samples were collected in the Kemaliye-Erzincan region and examined under microscope to determine pollen contents, which reflect the flora of the region. By determining pollen intensity of propolis pollen slides, the botanical origins of propolis samples were determined. Thirtytwo different plant families were identified by pollen analysis of the 30 propolis samples. Species belonging to Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Campanulaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Lamiaceae, Liliaceae, Pinaceae, Rosaceae, Salicaceae, Rhamnaceae, and Scrophulariaceae families were primarily found as the botanical origins of propolis. The plant choices of honey bees for collecting propolis according to season were also investigated by using Shannon Index. It was observed that Corylus spp., Onobrychis spp., Quercus spp., Teucrium spp., and Linaria spp. were the most preferred in spring and Eryngium spp., Carduus spp., Corylus spp., Medicago spp., Quercus spp., Nepeta spp., Teucrium spp., Zizyphus spp., Linaria spp., and Veronica spp. were the most preferred in fall.

Key Words :
Propolis, pollen, pollen analysis, plant family,Kemaliye-Erzincan