Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Unprecedented record of ten novel B chromosomes in the stingless bee Partamona helleri (Apidae, Meliponini)

  • Original article
  • Published:
Apidologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Partamona helleri from southeastern Brazil has shown the presence of up to four minute supernumerary chromosomes of the B1 or B2 type and a numeric variation from 2n = 34 to 38 chromosomes. Since the maximum dosage of four of these Bs per individual has been observed, the existence of genetic mechanisms controlling their accumulation has been suggested. In this study, several new types of B chromosomes were found in other localities of the geographic distribution of this species, especially nearby the northern end of the species range, showing a numeric variation of n = 18 to 19 in males and 2n = 34 to 2n = 41 in females. Ten novel types of acrocentric and metacentric B chromosomes were classified as B3 to B12. Eight types were found in the state of Bahia and two types in the state of Espírito Santo. The results suggest that these Bs have had different evolutionary mechanisms involved in their origin and diversification. A variation within and between geographic samples in the number of chromomycin A3 and Ag-NOR markings was observed as a result of the presence or absence of different Bs. Six different B chromosomes showed Ag-NOR markings, which denote presence of gene activity. The karyotype variation and the patterns of B chromosome distribution observed indicate that this species is likely undergoing a process of genetic differentiation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
Figure 4.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bakkali, M., Camacho, J.P.M. (2004) The B chromosome polymorphism of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans in North Africa: III. Mutation rate of B chromosomes. Heredity 92, 428–433

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barth, A., Fernandes, A., Pompolo, S.G., Costa, M.A. (2011) Occurrence of B chromosomes in Tetragonisca Latreille, 1811 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini): a new contribution to the cytotaxonomy of the genus. Genet Mol Biol 34(1), 77–79

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beukeboom, L.W. (1994) Bewildering Bs: an impression of the 1st B chromosome conference. Heredity 73, 328–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boeskorov, G.C., Kartavtseva, I.V., Zagorodnyuk, I.V., Belyanin, A.N., Lyapunova, E.A. (1995) Nucleolus organizer regions and B chromosomes of wood mice (Mammalia, Rodentia, Apodemus). Russ J Genet 31(2), 156–163

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brito, R.M., Costa, M.A., Pompolo, S.G. (1997) Characterization and distribution of supernumerary chromosomes in 23 colonies of Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae). Brazil. J. Genet. 20(2), 185–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Brito, R.M., Pompolo, S.G., Magalhães, M.F.M., Barros, E.G., Hojo, E.T.S. (2005) Cytogenetic characterization of two Partamona species (Hymenoptera, Apinae, Meliponini) by fluorochrome staining and localization of 18S rDNA clusters by FISH. Cytologia 70, 373–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cabrero, J., Alché, J.D., Camacho, J.P.M. (1987) Effects of B chromosomes of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans on nucleolar organizer regions activity. Activation of a latent NOR on a B chromosome fused to an autosome. Genome 29, 116–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camacho, J.P.M., Sharbel, T.F., Beukeboom, L.W. (2000) B chromosome evolution. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 355, 163–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Camargo, J.M.F., Pedro, S.R.M. (2003) Meliponini neotropicais: o gênero Partamona Schwarz, 1939 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Apinae) - bionomia e biogeografia. Rev. Bras. Entomol. 47, 311–372

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa, M.A., Pompolo, S.G., Campos, L.A.O. (1992) Supernumerary chromosomes in Partamona cupira (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae). Rev. Bras. Genet. 15, 801–806

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, D.M. (1988) Cytogenetics of the endemic New Zealand frog, Leiopelma hochstetteri: extraordinary supernumerary chromosome variation and a unique sex-chromosome system. Chromosoma 97, 55–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatanaka, T., Tambasco, A.J., Galetti-Junior, P.M. (1998) Heterochromatin heterogeneity and chromosome heteromorphism in Cerdocyon thous (Mammalia, Canidae). Genet Mol Biol 21, 227–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell, W.M., Black, D.A. (1980) Controlled silver-staining of nucleolus organizer regions with a protective colloidal developer: a 1-step method. Experientia 36, 1014–1015

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbell, H.R. (1985) Silver staining as an indicator of active ribosomal genes. Stain Technol 60(5), 285–294

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Imai, H.T. (1991) Mutability of constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) during eukaryotic chromosomal evolution and their cytological meaning. Jpn J Genet 66, 635–661

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Imai, H.T., Taylor, R.W., Crosland, M.W., Crozier, R.H. (1988) Modes of spontaneous chromosomal mutation and karyotype evolution in ants with reference to the minimum interaction hypothesis. Jpn J Genet 63, 159–185

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R.N. (1995) Tansley review no. 85: B chromosomes in plants. New Phytol 131, 411–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R.N., Viegas, W., Houben, A. (2008) A century of B chromosomes in plants: so what? Ann Bot 101, 767–775

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kavalco, K.F., Pazza, R. (2004) A rapid alternative technique for obtaining silver positive patterns in chromosomes. Genet Mol Biol 27, 196–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leach, C.R., Houben, A., Field, B., Pistrick, K., Demidov, D., Timmis, J.N. (2005) Molecular evidence for transcription of genes on a B chromosome in Crepis capillaris. Genetics 171, 269–278

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lopes, D.M., Pompolo, S.G., Campo, L.A.O., Tavares, M.G. (2008) Cytogenetic characterization of Melipona rufiventris Lepeletier 1836 and Melipona mondury Smith 1863 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) by C banding and fluorochromes staining. Genet Mol Biol 31(1), 49–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López-León, M.D., Cabrero, J., Camacho, J.P.M. (1991) A nucleolus organizer region in a B chromosome inactivated by DNA methylation. Chromosoma 100, 134–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marthe, J.B., Pompolo, S.G., Campos, L.A.O., Salomão, T.M.F., Tavares, M.G. (2010) Cytogenetic characterization of Partamona cupira (Hymenoptera, Apidae) by fluorochromes. Genet Mol Biol 33, 253–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martins, C.C.C., Diniz, D., Sobrinho-Scudeler, P.E., Foresti, F., Campos, L.A.O., Costa, M.A. (2012) Investigation of Partamona helleri (Apidae, Meliponini) B chromosome origin. An approach by microdissection and whole chromosome painting. Apidologie 44, 75–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martins, C.C.C., Duarte, O.M.P., Waldschmidt, A.M., Alves, R.M.O., Costa, M.A. (2009) New occurrence of B chromosomes in Partamona helleri (Friese, 1900) (Hymenoptera, Meliponini). Genet Mol Biol 32, 782–785

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pompolo, S.G., Takahashi, C.S. (1990) Chromosome numbers and C-banding in two wasp species of the genus Polistes (Hymenoptera Polistine, Polistini). Insectes Soc. 37, 251–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz-Estévez, M., López-León, M.D., Cabrero, J., Camacho, J.P.M. (2012) B-chromosome ribosomal DNA is functional in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. PLoS ONE . doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036600

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarzacher, T., Heslop-Harrison, P. (1999) Practical in situ hybridization. BIOS Scientific, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Schweizer, D. (1980) Simultaneous fluorescent staining of R bands and specific heterochromatic regions (DA-DAPI bands) in human chromosomes. Cytogenet Cell Genet 27, 190–193

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sumner, A.T. (1972) A simple technique for demonstrating centromeric heterochromatin. Exp Cell Res 75, 304–306

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tosta, V.C., Fernandes-Salomão, T.M., Tavares, M.G., Pompolo, S.G., Barros, E.G., Campos, L.A.O. (2004) A RAPD marker associated with B chromosomes in Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Cytogenet. Genome Res. 106, 279–283

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Silvia RM Pedro for the specimen identification. This study was supported by CAPES (Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km 16, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil, CEP 45662-900

    Cinthia Caroline Cardoso Martins & Marco Antônio Costa

  2. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Rua Jose Moreira Sobrinho s/n Jequiezinho, Jequié, Bahia, Brazil, CEP 45206-510

    Ana Maria Waldschmidt

Authors
  1. Cinthia Caroline Cardoso Martins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ana Maria Waldschmidt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marco Antônio Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marco Antônio Costa.

Additional information

Manuscript editor: Klaus Hartfelder

Observation inédite de 10 nouveaux chromosomes B chez l’abeille sans aiguillon Partamona helleri (Apidae, Meliponini)

Abeille sans aiguillon / différenciation géographique / chromosome B / bandes Ag-NOR

Ein unerwarteter Befund mit zehn neuen B-Chromosomen bei der stachellosen Biene Partamona helleri (Apidae, Meliponini)

Stachellose Biene / geographische Differenzierung / B-Chromosom / Ag-NOR

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Martins, C.C.C., Waldschmidt, A.M. & Costa, M.A. Unprecedented record of ten novel B chromosomes in the stingless bee Partamona helleri (Apidae, Meliponini). Apidologie 45, 431–439 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-013-0257-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-013-0257-y

Keyword

Search

Navigation