›› 2007, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (2): 144-152.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

AFLP analysis of genetic diversity of Apis cerana Fabricius distributed in different geographic areas in China

JIANG Yu-Suo, LIU Wen-Zhong, ZHANG Chun-Xiang, QIAO Li-Ying,ZHU Wen-Jin, ZHANG Gui-Xian, GUO Chuan-Jia   

  1. (College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, China)
  • Online:2007-03-07 Published:2007-11-20
  • Contact: GUO Chuan-Jia

Abstract: The genetic variation and differentiation among 11 populations of Apis cerana Fabricius and one population of Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola from 9 provinces (cities) of China were analysed by a total of 22 AFLP primer combinations. The genetic similarity coefficients among 39 individuals, and Nei's distance, Reynolds distance, pairwise Fst among the populations were calculated from AFLP data. Dendrogram trees among individuals and/or populations were constructed based on UPGMA clustering analysis. The results indicated that AFLP analysis had high assaying efficiency and provided a valuable tool for studying genetic diversity and breed characterization in honeybees. Remarkable genetic differentiation, indicated by the genetic similarity coefficients, was found between A. cerana and A. mellifera. Extensive genetic variation was also existed among the nine populations of A. cerana, indicating that A. cerana was rich in genetic diversity. The UPGMA tree suggested that the honeybees of Hainan province had evolved into a unique subspecies because of island isolation, which supported the results based on morphological research.

Key words: Apis cerana, Apis mellifera, ecotype, AFLP analysis, genetic diversity, China