Differentiation of Iranian Honeybees (Apis mellifera meda) from Commercial Honeybee Subspecies using ND1 and ND5 Genes

The samples of honeybee workers were collected from 26 areas from Iran. The aim of this research was to evaluate the ND1 (630 bp) and ND5 (630 bp) genes for differentiation of Iranian honeybees (A. m. meda) from commercial subspecies (A. m. carnica, A. m. ligustica, A. m. caucasica and A. m. mellifera). The ND1 and ND5 squences of Iranian honeybees and other honeybee subspecies were evaluated using bayesian and parsiminy methods. ND1 and ND5 showed eight and five haplotypes in populations of Iranian honeybees. Using bayesian method, four clades were identified in Iranian honeybees of phylogenetic tree derived from ND1 gene. The first to fourth clades included haplotype 1 (Golestan, Southern Khorasan, Kordestan, Lorestan and Mazandaran), haplotype 2 (Siatan Balochestan), haplotype 3 (Yazd and Eilam), haplotype 4 (Ardabil), haplotype 5 (Kerman), haplotype 6 (Zanjan), haplotype 7 (Kermanshah) and haplotype 8 (Boshehr, Western Azarbayejan, Charmahal Bakhtiari, Qazvin, Qom, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Razavi Khorasan, Northern Khorasan, Kohkeloye Boyerahmad, Khozestan, Markazi, Semnan and Fars). The phylogenetic trees drived from bayesian and parsimony methods demonstrated more ability of ND1 gene in comparison with ND5 gene; ND1 gene differntiated Iranian honeybees from commercial honeybee subspecies. Furthermore, using parsimony method, more informative sites were identified in ND1 in comparison with ND5 gene. Principle component analysis (PCA) confirmend phylogenetic trees of ND1 drived from bayesian and parsimny methods and phylogenetic tree of ND5 drived from bayesian method. Moreover, PCA demonstrated more efficiency of ND1 in differentiation of evolutionary lineages (Z-subgroup, A, C and M) in comparison with ND5 gene.