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Evaluation of Apis mellifera syriaca Levant region honeybee conservation using comparative genome hybridization

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Abstract

Apis mellifera syriaca is the native honeybee subspecies of Jordan and much of the Levant region. It expresses behavioral adaptations to a regional climate with very high temperatures, nectar dearth in summer, attacks of the Oriental wasp and is resistant to Varroa mites. The A. m. syriaca control reference sample (CRS) in this study was originally collected and stored since 2001 from “Wadi Ben Hammad”, a remote valley in the southern region of Jordan. Morphometric and mitochondrial DNA markers of these honeybees had shown highest similarity to reference A. m. syriaca samples collected in 1952 by Brother Adam of samples collected from the Middle East. Samples 1–5 were collected from the National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension breeding apiary which was established for the conservation of A. m. syriaca. Our objective was to determine the success of an A. m. syriaca honey bee conservation program using genomic information from an array-based comparative genomic hybridization platform to evaluate genetic similarities to a historic reference collection (CRS). Our results had shown insignificant genomic differences between the current population in the conservation program and the CRS indicated that program is successfully conserving A. m. syriaca. Functional genomic variations were identified which are useful for conservation monitoring and may be useful for breeding programs designed to improve locally adapted strains of A. m. syriaca.

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Acknowledgements

This research paper is part of the project entitled “Evaluation and Development of Apis mellifera syriaca with Useful keeping Traits for the Middle East Region.” And the project entitled “Impact of the Varroa destructor infestation and its viral load on honeybee colonies in the Middle East and North Africa” funded by USAID grants numbers: TA-MOU-09-M29-075 and TA-MOU-11-M32-035.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bee Research Department, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension, P.O.Box 639, Baqa’, 19381, Jordan

    Nizar Jamal Haddad, Ahmed Batainh & Banan Al-Shagour

  2. Research and Development Unit, Genotypic Technology (P) Ltd, #259, Apurva, 2nd Floor, 4th Cross, R.M.V. 2nd Stage, 80 Feet Road, Bangalore, 560 094, India

    Deepti Saini, Mohamed Aiyaz, Rushiraj Manchiganti & Venkatesh Krishnamurthy

  3. Jordanian Bee Research Station, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension, Irbid, Jordan

    Osama Migdadi & Zayed Mahoud Hamouri

  4. Science Department, Science Faculty, Jerash University, Jerash, Jordan

    Mohammad Brake

  5. Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory, ARS/USDA, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70820, USA

    Lelania Bourgeois, Lilia De Guzman & Thomas Rinderer

Authors
  1. Nizar Jamal Haddad
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  2. Ahmed Batainh
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  3. Deepti Saini
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  4. Osama Migdadi
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  5. Mohamed Aiyaz
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  6. Rushiraj Manchiganti
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  7. Venkatesh Krishnamurthy
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  8. Banan Al-Shagour
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  9. Mohammad Brake
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  10. Lelania Bourgeois
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  11. Lilia De Guzman
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  12. Thomas Rinderer
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  13. Zayed Mahoud Hamouri
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nizar Jamal Haddad.

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Electronic supplementary material

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Supplementary table 1

Complete list of significant genome wide alterations (XLSX 68 kb)

Supplementary table 2

List of genes involved in genome wide alterations (XLSX 55 kb)

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Haddad, N.J., Batainh, A., Saini, D. et al. Evaluation of Apis mellifera syriaca Levant region honeybee conservation using comparative genome hybridization. Genetica 144, 279–287 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-016-9897-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-016-9897-y

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