Honey bee populations of the USA display restrictions in their mtDNA haplotype diversity

Abstract

The genetic diversity of the USA honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations was examined through a molecular approach using two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers. A total of 1,063 samples were analyzed for the mtDNA intergenic region located between the cytochrome c oxidase I and II (COI-COII) and 401 samples were investigated for the NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2) coding gene. The samples represented 45 states, the District of Colombia and two territories of the USA. Nationwide, three maternal evolutionary lineages were identified: the North Mediterranean lineage C (93.79%), the West Mediterranean lineage M (3.2%) and the African lineage A (3.01%). A total of 27 haplotypes were identified, 13 of them (95.11%) were already reported and 14 others (4.87%) were found to be novel haplotypes exclusive to the USA. The number of haplotypes per state/territory ranged between two and eight and the haplotype diversity H ranged between 0.236–0.763, with a nationwide haplotype diversity of 0.597. Furthermore, the honey bee populations of the USA were shown to rely heavily (76.64%) on two single haplotypes (C1 = 38.76%, C2j = 37.62%) of the same lineage characterizing A. m. ligustica and A. m. carnica subspecies, respectively. Molecular-variance parsimony in COI-COII and ND2 confirmed this finding and underlined the central and ancestral position of C2d within the C lineage. Moreover, major haplotypes of A. m. mellifera (M3a, M7b, M7c) were recorded in six states (AL, AR, HI, MO, NM and WA). Four classic African haplotypes (A1e, A1v, A4, A4p) were also identified in nine states and Puerto Rico, with higher frequencies in southern states like LA, FL and TX. This data suggests the need to evaluate if a restricted mtDNA haplotype diversity in the US honey bee populations could have negative impacts on the beekeeping sustainability of this country.

Genetic Profile of Greek Indigenous Honey Bee Populations, Local Extinctions, Geographical Distinction, and Patterns, by Using mtDNA COI and Nuclear CSD Gene Analysis Markers

“…High levels of genetic variability are not uncommon in reared honey bees elsewhere [42,50,51,53,55,56]. For instance, the vast majority of honey bee populations from the USA have been characterized by high levels of haplotype diversity, ranging from 0.236 to 0.763 [10]. Similarly, honey bee populations from Iraq indicated considerable genetic diversity, ranging from 0.39 to 0.47 based on COI and 16S rDNA genes, with an average value of 0.44 [57].…”

“…This intraspecific diversity presents a fascinating parameter for studying the evolutionary biology, ecological dynamics, and genetic bases of complex traits. At least 30 different subspecies of A. mellifera have been described [8,9], classified into seven evolutionary different lineages, in which East European (C), West European (M), African (A, L and U), and Western Asia (O and Y) honey bees are included [10,11]. These subspecies are also known as "geographic races" owing to distributions that correspond to different geographic areas [12].…”

Algerian Propolis from Distinct Geographical Locations: Chemical Profiles, Antioxidant Capacity, Cytotoxicity and Inhibition of 5‐Lipoxygenase Product Biosynthesis

“…Novel haplotypes were named according to the nomenclature proposed in. [22] The three most dominant haplotypes were A9-828-2-DZA (24 %) followed by A8d (14 %) and A8-828-2-DZA (12 %). Other haplotypes were recorded: A1-637-3-DZA and A2-637-3-DZA (7.14 %); A8f, A3-637-3-DZA, A3-637-3-DZA (4.8 %) ; A5-638-2-DZA, A7-638-3-DZA, A14-637-3-DZA, A6-828-2-DZA, A10-827-2-DZA, A11-828-3-DZA, A12-828-3-DZA, A13-828-2-DZA (2.4 %) (Table 1).…”

ApismelliferaMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), A Rewiew Paper

“…The investigation successfully delineated three distinct maternal evolutionary lineages, namely lineage C originating from the northern Mediterranean, lineage M originating from the western Mediterranean, and lineage A originating from Africa. The study revealed that the subspecies A. m. ligustica and A. m. carnica, found in the United States, exhibit a notable reliance on two distinct haplotypes (C1 and C2j) belonging to the same lineage [34].…”