Genomic insights into middle eastern honey bee subspecies: population structure and genetic integrity

• Main Author: Henriques, Dora
• Publication Date: 2024
• Other Authors: Yadró Garcia, Carlos A., Honrado, Mónica, Amaral, Joana S., Muz, Mustafa Necati, Muz, Dilek, Haddad, Nizar, Al Shagour, Banan, Obeidat, Wisam, Hosri, Chadi, Arab, Alireza, Arruda, James, Lamghari, Fouad, Rufino, José, Martín-Hernández, Raquel, Nanetti, Antonio, Pinto, M. Alice
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/30316
• topic: Apis mellifera; Whole Genome Resequencing; Middle Eastern; Research Subject Categories::TECHNOLOGY::Chemical engineering::Food technology

The genetic patterns of Middle Eastern A. mellifera subspecies have been understudied, hindering a comprehensive understanding of honey bee evolutionary history. Here, we studied the genetic integrity of five Middle Eastern subspecies across a broad geographical range: Turkey (A. m. anatoliaca, N=97; A. m. caucasia, N=75; A. m. syriaca, N=18), Jordan and Lebanon (A. m. syriaca, N=238 and N=29), Iran (A. m. meda, N=75), Oman, and the UAE (A. m. jemenitica, N=13 and N=10). ADMIXTURE and PCA analyses were conducted on SNPs detected from whole-genomes. Our findings reveal concerning conservation statuses for many populations/subspecies. In A. m. caucasia and A. m. anatoliaca, only 10 and 28 samples, respectively, were pure (introgression < 90%). In the A. m. caucasia range, 60 samples were hybrids of A. m. caucasia, A. m. syriaca, and A. m. ligustica. In the A. m. anatoliaca range, 69 samples showed high hybridization degrees with A. m. syriaca, and A. m. caucasia. Only six samples in the Turkish range of the A. m. syriaca range were identified as pure, while the rest were also hybrids. All samples from Jordan and Lebanon showed variable A. m. ligustica introgression. In Iran, 23 samples were classified as pure A. m. meda. The rest showed introgression primarily due to A. m. ligustica and A. m. caucasia. In the UAE, two main groups were identified: the first comprised hybrids of A. m. jemenitica, A. m. lamarckii and A. m. ligustica, and the second group mainly consisted of hybrids of A. m. lamarckii and A. m. ligustica. Oman stands out as the sole location where all samples were identified as pure A. m. jemenitica. This study indicates widespread hybridization across various regions and underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts for Middle Eastern subspecies.