Evaluation of the efficacy of mitochondrial ATP 6 and 8, Cyt b and 16S rDNA genes for differentiation of Iranian honeybees (Apis mellifera meda) from commercial subspecies of Apis mellifera L. and comparison with geometric morphometric method

Mitochondrial DNA sequence variations and the geometric morphometric method can be used to differentiate honeybee subspecies and evolutionary lineages. Molecular markers are powerful tools for discriminating honeybee subspecies. In this study, 19 beekeeping sites were selected to collect Iranian honeybee samples. The honeybee forewing images stored at Oberursel (the Bee Data Bank) were used to compare with those of Iranian honeybees using the geometric morphometric method. Furthermore, the abilities of DNA markers to differentiate Iranian honeybees (A. m. meda) from the most common commercial subspecies (A. m. carnica and A. m. ligustica) were assessed. In the present research, 16S rDNA (Mitochondrial 16S rDNA Region) showed greater ability in differentiating Iranian honeybees from other subspecies compared with ATP 6 and 8 and Cyt b. The phylogenetic tree derived from 16S rDNA differentiated A. m. carnica and A. m. ligustica from Iranian honeybees. Principle component analysis (PCA) discriminated C lineage and Z subgroup from A and M lineages using 16S rDNA. In addition, the phylogenetic tree of the 16S rDNA affirmed the findings of the cluster analysis derived from the geometric morphometric method in differentiating A. m. carnica and A. m. ligustica from Iranian honeybees. The cluster analysis grouped reference subspecies of A. m. meda with Iranian honeybees. Moreover, the Discriminant Function Analyses (DFA) differentiated Iranian honeybees from A. m. ligustica and A. m. carnica.