Genetic Diversity of Kirklareli Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Populations in Thrace Region of Turkey: Identification of Mitochondrial COI and ND5 Gene Regions

The main goal of genetic resource conservation is to keep as much genetic diversity as possible within each species. In this respect, some difficulties in the protection of honey bee gene resources make it necessary to reveal the genetic structures of the subspecies and the genetic relationships between the subspecies. In this study, Kirklareli honey bee populations which were officially registered as an ecotype of Turkey's honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) gene resources by the Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, were examined in the COI and ND5 genes of mitochondrial DNA. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) together with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to define Apis mellifera populations. A total of 117 worker bee samples were used which were collected from mostly the Kirklareli province. A newly found single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), G -> A transition in the COI gene region formed a novel NcoI restriction site resulting in a new haplotype. This new haplotype has been abbreviated as haplotype C. As a result of the COI/SspI digestion, the previously reported C haplotype was determined. No restriction was found with the treatment of COI/ StyI enzyme. On the other hand, as a result of ND5/AluI restriction, 2 restriction site and previously reported haplotype C was obtained in all of the studied samples. No restriction was screened with ND5/ FokI and ND5/HincII enzymes in the whole samples, only a reported uncut B haplotype was observed. Within this study, novel genetic information has been revealed for the Kirklareli honey bee ecotype registered as the Thrace honey bee of Turkey's honey bee gene resources. Moreover, detailed studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to characterize the origin and the subspecies of Kirklareli honey bees in detail. It is thought that this study will be useful in the identification and registration of the Kirklareli honey bees to be carried out in the future, and also in the creation of a database.