Mitochondrial DNA variation of Algerian honey bees Apis mellifera intermissa and Apis mellifera sahariensis based on COI-COII RFLP and sequencing

Abstract

Abstract To investigate the diversity among Algerian honeybees, we analyzed the mitochondrial DNA of 92 individuals originating from 18 different locations in North and South of Algeria based on the E2-H2 amplification of COI-COII intergenic region. Additional to RFLP analysis of mtDNA COI-COII intergenic region by using the restriction enzyme Dra I, we also sequenced 50 honeybee individuals displaying different restriction enzyme profiles. Our data revealed the presence of four different mtDNA haplotypes at various frequencies (A8, A9, C2 and M4). Based on the haplotype diversity, we can infer that the Algerian honeybees surveyed mainly consists of two haplotypes namely A8 (30.48%) and A9 (63.41%), the latter being most frequent in native regions of Saharan honeybee Apis mellifera sahariensis (EL Bayadh, Naama and Bechar) with a high frequency value (85.71%) comparative to the rest of the country (52.72% of frequency). Moreover, a low genetic introgression (6.09%) of non-local mtDNA haplotypes (C2 and M4) was also observed, which may be explained by the importation of foreign honeybee queens to Algeria. The sequencing of 50 individuals revealed the presence of 15 new haplotypes not previously described (6 sequences of A9, 6 sequences of A8, 2sequences of C2 and 1 sequence of M4), which are available in NCBI. Moreover the phylogenetic analysis revealed that the A8 haplotypes form a well-supported monophyletic group, which appear as a derived branch from the A9 group. This suggests that the haplotypes A8 have likely recently diverged within the A. mellifera intermissa complex in Northern (tellian) regions. Implications for insect conservation: This study help to more understand the genetic diversity which is essential for the description and the conservation of Algerian honeybee population.