title: Evaluation of Apis mellifera syriaca Levant region honeybee conservation using comparative genome hybridization.
abstract: Apis mellifera syriaca is the native honeybee subspecies of Jordan and much of the Levant region. It expresses behavioral adaptations to a regional climate with very high temperatures, nectar dearth in summer, attacks of the Oriental wasp and is resistant to Varroa mites. The A. m. syriaca control reference sample (CRS) in this study was originally collected and stored since 2001 from "Wadi Ben Hammad", a remote valley in the southern region of Jordan. Morphometric and mitochondrial DNA markers of these honeybees had shown highest similarity to reference A. m. syriaca samples collected in 1952 by Brother Adam of samples collected from the Middle East. Samples 1-5 were collected from the National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension breeding apiary which was established for the conservation of A. m. syriaca. Our objective was to determine the success of an A. m. syriaca honey bee conservation program using genomic information from an array-based comparative genomic hybridization platform to evaluate genetic similarities to a historic reference collection (CRS). Our results had shown insignificant genomic differences between the current population in the conservation program and the CRS indicated that program is successfully conserving A. m. syriaca. Functional genomic variations were identified which are useful for conservation monitoring and may be useful for breeding programs designed to improve locally adapted strains of A. m. syriaca.
authors.affiliation: Bee Research Department, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension, P.O.Box 639, Baqa', 19381, Jordan. drnizarh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nizar Jamal
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.affiliation: Bee Research Department, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension, P.O.Box 639, Baqa', 19381, Jordan.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batainh
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Unit, Genotypic Technology (P) Ltd, #259, Apurva, 2nd Floor, 4th Cross, R.M.V. 2nd Stage, 80 Feet Road, Bangalore, 560 094, India.
authors.forename: Deepti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.affiliation: Jordanian Bee Research Station, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Osama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Migdadi
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Unit, Genotypic Technology (P) Ltd, #259, Apurva, 2nd Floor, 4th Cross, R.M.V. 2nd Stage, 80 Feet Road, Bangalore, 560 094, India.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aiyaz
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Unit, Genotypic Technology (P) Ltd, #259, Apurva, 2nd Floor, 4th Cross, R.M.V. 2nd Stage, 80 Feet Road, Bangalore, 560 094, India.
authors.forename: Rushiraj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manchiganti
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Unit, Genotypic Technology (P) Ltd, #259, Apurva, 2nd Floor, 4th Cross, R.M.V. 2nd Stage, 80 Feet Road, Bangalore, 560 094, India.
authors.forename: Venkatesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthy
authors.affiliation: Bee Research Department, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension, P.O.Box 639, Baqa', 19381, Jordan.
authors.forename: Banan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al-Shagour
authors.affiliation: Science Department, Science Faculty, Jerash University, Jerash, Jordan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brake
authors.affiliation: Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory, ARS/USDA, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70820, USA.
authors.forename: Lelania
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
authors.affiliation: Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory, ARS/USDA, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70820, USA.
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Guzman
authors.affiliation: Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory, ARS/USDA, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70820, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rinderer
authors.affiliation: Jordanian Bee Research Station, National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Zayed Mahoud
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Hamouri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000235:genetics*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D059006:Chromosomes, Insect; D055028:Comparative Genomic Hybridization; D005784:Gene Amplification; D017353:Gene Deletion; D017344:Genes, Insect; D049750:Genome, Insect
keywords: Apis mellifera syriaca; Array aCGH; Dry conditions; SNP; Varroa resistance