Melissopalynological analysis of Piedmont honeys (North Western Italy)

The melissopalynological characterization is the best tool for valorizing honey productions and to evaluate the correspondence of honeys with the geographical origin showed on the label. The aim of this study is to investigate botanical and geographical origins of the honey produced in Piedmont, a region in the North West of Italy. Piedmont is characterized by three areas with different geomorphology: Alps, Prealps and plains, and by several vegetation typologies. Several honeys, produced in different provinces of Piedmont, have been collected and submitted to melissopalynological analyses in order to determine pollen spectra, botanical and geographical origin. Percentages of identified pollens have been elaborated to evaluate their incidence in honeys. According to the results of the qualitative and quantitative analyses, samples have been classified in unifloral (mainly chestnut, black locust, dandelion, lime, rhododendron, honeydew) and multifloral honeys. The pollen spectrum of Piedmont honeys includes: Castanea, Robinia, Rubus, Trifolium repens gr., Prunus and Pyrus form, Tilia, Gramineae, Rhododendron.