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Genetic characterization of Italian honeybees, Apis mellifera ligustica, based on microsatellite DNA polymorphisms

Caractérisation génétique des abeilles italiennes, Apis mellifera ligustica, par les polymorphismes de l’ADN microsatellite

Genetische Charakterisierung der italienischen Honigbiene, Apis mellifera ligustica, mittels Mikrosatelliten-DNA-Polymorphismen

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Abstract

The genetic variability of Apis mellifera ligustica was screened throughout the Italian peninsula and Sardinia with eight polymorphic microsatellite loci. Samples of Apis mellifera mellifera, Apis mellifera carnica and from the Buckfast breeding line were genotyped for comparison. Low Fis and Fst values suggest the absence of genetic structure within and among A. m. ligustica populations, although the high number of alleles detected and heterozygosity. Phylogenetic and individual analyses confirmed that A. m. ligustica has come to resemble one large population, probably as a result of intensive beekeeping practices such as migratory beekeeping and large-scale commercial queen trading. Since the introgression of foreign alleles into both endemic natural and commercial A. m. ligustica populations, can be detected and monitored by microsatellite analysis, the results provide a reference data set for future local biodiversity conservation and other controlled breeding programs.

Zusammenfassung

Wir erfassten die genetische Variabilität von Honigbienen der Rasse Apis mellifera ligustica über ganz Italien hinweg und in Sardinien. Die Genotypen zweier anderer Unterarten (Apis mellifera mellifera, Apis mellifera carnica) und Proben der künstlichen Buckfast-Zuchtlinie wurden zum Vergleich ebenfalls untersucht. Insgesamt wurden über vier Jahre hinweg (2001–2004) Proben aus 379 Völkern von verschiedenen Standorten genommen. Alle A. m. ligustica Proben wurden sieben verschiedenen regionalen Gruppen zugeordnet (Abb. 1). Genetische Polymorphismen wurden für acht Mikrosatellitenloci mittels automatisierter Kapillarelektrophorese untersucht (Locus-spezifische PCR-Bedingungen sind in Tab. I zusammengestellt). Die Mikrosatellitendaten der zehn Gruppen ermöglichte die Erfassung der allgemeinen Populationsparameter (Tab. II), die Darstellung der phylogenetischen Beziehungen zwischen den Gruppen und deren jeweilige Populationsstruktur, ebenso wie die Erstellung individueller Analysen.

Die in dieser Studie verwendeten genetischen Marker belegen das Potential der Mikrosatelliten-DNA-Loci für die Unterscheidung eng verwandter Taxa, da es möglich war, nicht nur A. m. mellifera- Proben (dem Evolutionszweigs M zugeordnet) von anderen zu unterscheiden, sondern auch zwischen A. m. carnica and A. m. ligustica (beide zum gleichen geographischen Zweig C gehörend) zu differenzieren. Die meisten Loci hatten unterartspezifische Allele (Tab. III), wobei der Locus Ap43 ein jeweils exklusives Allel für jedes der drei Taxa aufwies. Die Analyse der künstlichen Buckfast-Zuchtlinie belegte deren Ursprung als Hybrid und deren hohe genetische Diversität. Unser Genotypisierungsansatz erlaubte zusätzlich die Detektion von Hybridindividuen in Bienenproben aus dem Nordosten Italiens (Abb. 2).

Phylogenetische und individuelle Analysen belegten, dass A. m. ligustica inzwischen eine grosse Population darstellt, wahrscheinlich als Ergebnis einer intensiven Bienenhaltung, insbesondere durch die Wanderung von Bienenvölkern und den grossangelegten kommerziellen Austausch von Königinnen. Die Ergebnisse unserer Untersuchung stellen ein Datenset dar, das künftigen Programmen zur lokalen Konservierung der Biodiversität und auch kontrollierten Zuchtprogrammen von Nutzen sein kann. Die Mikrosatelliten-DNA-Analyse ist ein effizientes Verfahren, um die Introgression fremder Allele in natürlichen und kommerziell genutzten A. m. ligustica-Populationen zu entdecken und zu verfolgen.

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Correspondence to Raffaele Dall’Olio.

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Manuscript editor: Walter S. Sheppard

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Dall’Olio, R., Marino, A., Lodesani, M. et al. Genetic characterization of Italian honeybees, Apis mellifera ligustica, based on microsatellite DNA polymorphisms. Apidologie 38, 207–217 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2006073

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2006073

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