New COI-COII mtDNA Region Haplotypes in the Endemic Honey Bees Apis mellifera intermissa and Apis mellifera sahariensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Algeria

• Published in: Insects (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2024-07, Vol.15 (7), p.549
• Main Authors: Chibani Bahi Amar, Amira, Tabet Aoul, Nacera, Fridi, Riad, Vignal, Alain, Canale-Tabet, Kamila
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A lineage haplotypes; Algeria; Animal biology; Apiculture; Apis mellifera; Apis mellifera intermissa; Apis mellifera sahariensis; Archipelagoes; Beekeeping; Bees; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; COI-COII intergenic region; Cytochrome; Development Biology; Economic importance; Environment and Society; Environmental Sciences; Ethanol; Evolution; France; Genetic aspects; Genetic diversity; genetic variation; Genetics; Genomics; Geographical distribution; Haplotypes; Honey; honey bees; Honeybee; Importation; Indian Ocean; intergenic DNA; Interspecific hybridization; introgression; Life Sciences; Madagascar; Mitochondrial DNA; Morphology; Phylogenetics; Physiological aspects; Population genetics; Population studies; Populations and Evolution; Precipitation; sequence analysis; sequencing; Veterinary medicine and animal Health; Zoological research
• ISSN: 2075-4450; 2075-4450
• DOI: 10.3390/insects15070549

The practice of beekeeping in Algeria is of great cultural, social, and economic importance. However, the importation of non-local subspecies reported by beekeepers has disrupted the natural geographical distribution area and the genetic diversity of the native honey bees. To assess the genetic diversity of and , and their relationships with African and European subspecies, the COI-COII intergenic region was analyzed in 335 individuals, 68 sampled in Algeria, 71 in Europe, Madagascar, and the South West Indian Ocean archipelagos, and 196 sequences recovered from GenBank. The results show the presence of the A lineage exclusively in Algerian samples with the identification of 24 haplotypes of which 16 are described for the first time. These haplotypes were found to be shared by both subspecies, with A74 being the most common haplotype in the population studied. The sequence comparison indicates the existence of three polymorphisms of the COI-COII marker: P0Q, P0QQ, and P0QQQ. One new haplotype was identified in the M lineage in samples from France. No evidence of genetic introgression within the Algerian honey bee population was detected. These data enhance our knowledge of the genetic diversity and emphasize the importance of protecting these local subspecies.