Evaluation of Apis mellifera syriaca Levant Region honeybee conservation using Comparative Genome Hybridization

Authors: HADDAD, NIZAR - National Center For Agricultural Research And Extension (NCARTT); BATAINH, AHMED - National Center For Agricultural Research And Extension (NCARTT); SAINI, DEEPTI - Genotypic Technology (P) Ltd; MIGDADI, OSAMA - National Center For Agricultural Research And Extension (NCARTT); AIYAZ, MOHAMED - Genotypic Technology (P) Ltd; MANCHIGANTI, RUSHIRAJ - Genotypic Technology (P) Ltd; KRISHNAMURTHY, VENKATESH - Genotypic Technology (P) Ltd; AL-SHAGOUR, BANAN - National Center For Agricultural Research And Extension (NCARTT); BRAKE, MOHAMMAD - Jerash University; Bilodeau, Lanie; De Guzman, Lilia; Rinderer, Thomas; ALHAMURI, ZAID - National Center For Agricultural Research And Extension (NCARTT)

Submitted to: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/21/2016
Publication Date: 3/24/2016
Citation: Haddad, N.J., Batainh, A.M., Saini, D., Migdadi, O.S., Aiyaz, M., Manchiganti, R., Krishnamurthy, V., Al-Shagour, B., Brake, M., Bourgeois, A.L., De Guzman, L.I., Rinderer, T.E., Alhamuri, Z. 2016. Evaluation of Apis mellifera syriaca Levant Region honeybee conservation using Comparative Genome Hybridization. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. doi: 10.107/s10709-016-9897-y

Interpretive Summary: Apis mellifera syriaca is the native honeybee subspecies of Jordan and much of the Levant Region. It has behaviorally adaptated to a regional climate with very high temperatures, lack of nectar in the summer, attacks of the Oriental wasp and is resistant to Varroa mites. The reference sample used in this study was originally collected and stored since 2001 from "Wadi Ben Hammad", a remote valley in the southern region of Jordan. Samples 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 by evaluating genetic similarities to the historic reference sample. Our results demonstrated that the conservation program has been successful. A second stage of the analyses identified markers which may be useful for conservation monitoring and breeding programs designed to improve locally adapted strains of A. m. syriaca.

Technical 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 (aCGH) platform to evaluate genetic similarities to a historic reference collection (CRS). Our results had show 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 molecular markers were identified which may be useful for breeding programs designed to improve locally adapted strains of A. m. syriaca.