Melissopalynological Characterization of North Algerian Honeys

Abstract

A pollen analysis of Algerian honey was conducted on a total of 10 honey samples. The samples were prepared using the methodology described by Louveaux <i>et al</i>., that was then further adapted by Ohe <i>et al</i>. The samples were subsequently observed using light microscopy. A total of 36 pollen taxa were discovered and could be identified in the analyzed honey samples. Seventy percent of the studied samples belonged to the group ofmonofloral honeys represented by <i>Eucalyptus globulus</i>, <i>Thymus vulgaris</i>, <i>Citrus</i> sp. and <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i>. Multifloral honeys comprised 30% of the honey samples, with pollen grains of <i>Lavandula stoechas</i> (28.49%) standing out as the most prevalent. Based on cluster analysis, two different groups of honey were observed according to different pollen types found in the samples. The identified pollen spectrum of honey confirmed their botanical origin.