Phylogeography and population genetics of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) from Turkey based on COI-COII sequence data

A study that involved DNA sequencing COI-COII intergenic region of the mitochondrial DNA genome of Apis mellifera honey bees from Turkey was conducted to determine the population genetics and phylogeographic structure of this species from seven distinct areas of Turkey. From the 115 honey bees subjected to DNA sequencing, a total of 12 haplotypes of Apis mellifera antoliaca/lingustica were observed, of which only haplotype, ama3, had been reported previously. The most common haplotype, ama2, accounted for 47% of the A. m. antoliaca samples and was found in 4 of the 7 sampled populations. This haplotype was also the basal ancestral haplotype based on TCS spanning tree analysis. The greatest amount of genetic diversity was observed in Bursa, where 4 haplotypes of A. m. antoliaca/lingustica were unique to this population. Wrights F-statistics revealed that Artvin and Bursa were the most genetically distinct populations. Applying a molecular clock, Turkish A. m. antoliaca/lingustica haplotypes have been diverging for 10,000 to 16,500 yr. based on phylogenetic analysis two Apis mellifera syriaca specimens that were observed from Hatay, Turkey. Phylogenetic analysis which included other A. mellifera subspecies confirms the subspecies relationships of A. m. antoliaca/lingustica, and A. m. syriaca. This study corroborates other studies that show Turkey to be a reservoir of genetically distinct populations of A. m. antoliac /lingustica, which can be useful for developing genetic conservation strategies for Apis mellifera.