Palinološke analize u proizvodnji lipovog meda sa Fruške Gore / Palynologycal analysis in the production of the lime tree honey from Fruška gora [Serbia]

Fruška gora Mountain is the most important lime tree honey forage in Serbia. It has potential to enable production of monofloral lime tree honey with distinctive characteristics. The success of this product depends on quality, reputation and produced quantity. This PhD Thesis tested the potential of pollen analysis in quality control, protection of geographical origin and improvement of production technology of the lime tree honey from Fruška gora Mountain. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of pollen extracted from honey, nectar, bee pollen and atmosphere were performed. Daily nectar intake and melissopalynological character of daily nectar samples from Fruška gora were compared to lime tree flowering phenophaze and aeropalynologycal data. Possibility of forecasting lime tree honey forage on Fruška gora Mountain was tested. Percentage of Tilia pollen in honey, which is an indicator of lime tree nectar contribution, successfully differentiates honey produced in different localities. As a result, striving to production of lime tree honey with high degree of monoflorality is the basis for the protection of geographical origin for honeys from Fruška gora Mountain. Extraction of lime tree honey at Fruška gora and removal of the honey remaining in the honey super from the previous forage can help in reaching high degree of monoflorality of Fruska gora lime tree honey. In addition it enables assuring the link between product and geographical location in mobile beekeeping. Period of intensive lime tree nectar intake is limited. Monitoring of pollen concentration and Tilia pollen percentage in daily nectar samples provide knowledge about the flow of lime tree honey forage. This information could be used for planning the extraction of highly monofloral lime tree honey. Accumulation of honey surplus corresponds to intensive flowering of Tilia tomentosa at Fruška gora Mountain. The main Tilia airborne pollen season starts between one and two weeks before the start of the flowering of T. tomentosa and T. cordata at Fruška gora Mountain. As a result it can be considered as an indicator when is time to bring hives to lime honey forage. Regression analysis confirmed that meteorological parameters are successful long term predictors of the start of the Tilia airborne pollen season which indirectly describes the start of lime trees flowering. This PhD Thesis set the basis for protection of geographical origin for lime tree honey from Fruška gora Mountain. As a result, Intellectual Property Office, Republic of Serbia protected FRUŠKA GORA LIME TREE HONEY as protected designation of origin. This supplied beekeepers with a tool for promotion of their product both at national and international honey market.