The Melliferous Potential of the Mountainous Region of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan: Pollen Profiling of Honey Using Microscopy

ABSTRACT Pollen content analysis of honey provides insight into the diversity of pollen grains and the development of a seasonal calendar to identify the diversity and availability of melliferous flora around the year. Melissopalynology is the most primitive and widely used technique for the qualitative and quantitative pollen profiling of honey. The honey of Azad Kashmir Pakistan has never been analyzed for pollen content despite the production at an industrial scale. A total of 60 samples were analyzed for the types and frequency of melliferous flora by the use of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. A wide diversity in morphological features differentiated 92 plant species belonging to 48 families. The most frequent plant families observed were Fabaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Myrtaceae, Rosaceae, Betulaceae, and Buxaceae. Asteraceae showed the maximum species contribution. The obtained percentages of representative pollens were classified in frequency classes as follows: D: Predominant pollen (45%), S: Secondary Pollen (15%–45%), I: Important minor pollen (3%–15%), and M: Minor pollen (1%–3%). Most of the samples were multifloral containing not one dominant pollen, while one was bifloral containing two dominant pollen types and one was unifloral containing only one dominant pollen. The results reflect the melliferous potential of the native flora in the region. Indigenous floral resources from tropical vegetation to alpine meadows sustain bee colonies even during dearth periods. This work will benefit consumers, beekeepers, and regulatory bodies to maintain the authenticity of honey by the provenance of geographical and botanical origin.