The complete mitochondrial genome of the yellow coloured honeybee Apis mellifera from North Island, New Zealand was analyzed using next-generation sequencing. The mitochondrial genome was a 16,349bp circular molecule and was predicted to contain 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes and two rRNA genes. The initiation codon ATA was found in two genes, ATG in four genes, ATT in six genes, and ATC in one gene, while the termination codon TAA was observed in all the PCGs. Phylogenetic analysis using the sequence of 23 closely related taxa suggested a sister relationship with the Italian strain A. mellifera ligustica .

We analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome of the dusky brown-gray-colored honeybee Apis mellifera, collected from North Island, New Zealand. We determined that the mitochondrial genome was a 16,336 bp and predicted 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes. The start codon ATA was found in two genes, ATG in four genes, ATT in six genes, and ATC in one gene, whereas the termination codon TAA was observed in all PCGs. The non-coding regions of tRNA-Leu and COII were consistent with the C haplotype of A. mellifera carnica. Phylogenetic analysis suggests a close relationship with the European A. mellifera.

We used loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to develop primers capable of discriminating between honey made in Japan from either the Japanese honey bee (Apis cerana) or the European honey bee (Apis mellifera). LAMP primers were designed for the mitochondrial COXII gene, which has been shown to exhibit interspecies variation in these honey bees. Identification of the honey bee species could be completed within approximately 60 min with 100 % accuracy. The origin of honey that had been stored at room temperature for more than 380 days could also be identified within approximately 60 min. This DNA analysis method is the first that can distinguish between honey produced from different honey bee species.

Japanese Apis cerana honey is believed to ferment due to the presence of some yeast. We analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome of Zygosaccharomyces siamensis, a yeast involved in fermenting honey. Zygosaccharomyces siamensis was obtained from the honey collected from A. cerana hives under traditional beekeeping in the forest of the Minabe-Tanabe Ume system in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Its mitochondrial genome was identified as a 23,184 bp circular molecule containing 8 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 24 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes. The PCGs contained a common set of genes encoding ATPase subunits (ATP6, ATP8, and ATP9), three subunits of cytochrome C oxidase (COX1, COX2, and COX3), apocytochrome b (CYTB), and ribosome-associated protein (RPS3). In addition, two open-reading frames coding for LAGLIDADG endonucleases were predicted to be about 1100 bps. The average GC content was found to be 48.6%. The heavy strand was predicted to have 7 PCGs, 22 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes, while the light strand was predicted to contain one PCG and two tRNA genes. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial DNA genes strongly supported the result obtained from the phylogenetic analysis of partial ITS region sequences, grouping the monophyletic species within the genus Zygosaccharomyces. The complete mitochondrial DNA genome of this honey-fermenting yeast will provide useful information for understanding the basis of the honey fermentation process.