Chromosomal diversity in Apis mellifera carnica from Serbia

Abstract

-Comparative chromosomal investigations of three honey bee ecotypes of A. m. carnica (the Banat, the Timok and the Syenichko-Peshterski ecotype) from Serbia were performed. G-band analyses revealed differences between Timok and Banat honey bee ecotypes in chromosomes 2, 4, 11 and 13. Between the Timok and Syenichko-Peshterski ecotypes, differences were observed for chromosomes 1, 12, 15 and 16. The greatest differences in G-band number and distribution were registered between the Syenichko-Peshterski and Banat ecotypes in chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16. The results point to great interecotype variability of G-band pattern of chromosomes of the carniolan honey bee in Serbia. To preserve such honey bee diversity in Serbia, the three investigated ecotypes require attention for conservation.Apis mellifera carnica / polymorphism / G-band / chromosomes / diversity

Morphological and production characteristics of carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica Poll.) from different parts of Serbia

“…Colonies of the Kopanik ecotype were restless and so graded next worst after the Pešter ecotype. The second group behaved in a way that was also found characteristic by many other authors studying honey bees on the Sjenica-Pešter plain (Vlatković, 1957;Stanimirović et al, 1997;Ćirković, 2002).…”

“…) has rapidly expanded over the past years both across Europe and worldwide (R u t t n e r , 1992). Such a broad area of distribution has resulted in a number of ecotypes of this bee subspecies that represent its best adapted genotypes to the respective local environments (Stanimirović et al, 1997). Differences among bee populations in Serbia were first observed back in the late 19th century.…”

Dominance of Nosema ceranae in honey bees in the Balkan countries in the absence of symptoms of colony collapse disorder

“…In the present study there were two southeastern European subspecies, A. m. carnica and A. m. macedonica, which both belong to the C2D and C2E mtDNA haplotype (Susnik et al, 2004;Kozmus et al, 2007) of the C Mediterranean lineage (Garnery et al, 1992;Franck et al, 2000;Meixner et al, 2007). Indigenous non-hybridized A. m. carnica populations in the region (Stanimirovic et al, 2005;Sušnik et al, 2004;Kozmus et al, 2007), an important genetic resource for future bee breeding programs (Stanimirovic et al, 2005;De la Rua, 2009), may be more resistant to N. ceranae. Nevertheless, the influence of bee subspecies on their susceptibility could be the subject of further investigation.…”

Characteristics of Nosema ceranae infection in Serbian honey bee colonies

“…14, 15 and 16, on altitudes 777, 600 and 435 m, respectively) are probably the results of their better adaptation to low temperatures. Previously evidenced genetic and behavioural differences among different ecotypes of Serbian honey bees (Stanimirovic et al 2002(Stanimirovic et al , 2005aStevanovic et al 2010;Muñoz et al 2012) support the idea that bees from Southern and Eastern regions of Serbia (localities No. 14, 15 and 16) may have better adaptation abilities.…”