GENETIC DIVERGENCE AND PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF HONEY BEE POPULATIONS FROM TURKEY USING PCR-RFLP's ANALYSIS OF TWO mtDNA SEGMENTS

Abstract

The genetic structure and phylogenetic relationship among honey bee populations of Turkey were studied using RFLP analysis on two PCR-amplified mtDNA gene segments (COI, 16s rDNA). The honey bees were sampled from 54 mainland localities of Turkey and 2 Aegean islands. Two different mitotype were detected with SspI digestion of COI gene. One mitotype was seen in only central Anatolia. The results of this research were compared with analogous studies on honey bee populations from Greece and it was found that the non-existence of 16s rDNA /DraI digestion is diagnostic only for Turkish honey bee populations. This result is very useful for the control of conservation of local honey bees, as the movement of colonies across the border line of these neighboring countries, may affect the genetic structure of honey bee populations.