Genetic structure of honeybee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera : Apidae) populations of Turkey inferred from microsatellite analysis

Bodur C., Kence M., Kence A.

JOURNAL OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH, vol.46, no.1, pp.50-56, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 46 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/00218839.2007.11101366
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.50-56
  • Keywords: Apis mellifera, honeybee, Turkey, microsatellites, genetic diversity, population structure, 4TH LINEAGE, BEE, DISTANCE, STATISTICS, LIGUSTICA, AFRICA
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We analyzed the genetic structure of 11 honeybee (Apis mellifera L) populations from Turkey and one from Cyprus using 9 microsatellite marker loci. Heterozygosity levels, mean number of alleles per population, number of diagnostic alleles, and pairwise F-ST values were computed for the populations studied. Heterozygosity levels were found to range between 0.54 and 0.68. We detected high levels of genetic divergence among the populations based on pairwise F-ST values; 50 of 66 pairwise F-ST values were significant. The presence of a large number of rare alleles and highly differentiated populations of honeybees are consistent with Anatolia's role as a genetic center for Middle Eastern honeybees. We suggest that certain precautions should be taken to limit introduction of foreign subspecies to preserve native genetic resources.