Genetic analysis of honey bee, Apis dorsata populations using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

The study was planned to evaluate the genetic variation and migration rate among the two populations of giant honey bees “Apis dorsata” from two districts i-e Nankana and Narowal from Punjab, Pakistan at molecular level by using Randomly Amplified Polymorphic (RAPD) DNA marker technique. Worker bee samples of A.dorsata were collected from five different sites of two districts each. Then, DNA was extracted. The data obtained after ten oligonucleotides RAPD primer usage for Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification was subjected to POPGENE (Population Genetic Analysis) software for analysis. The number of amplifications products per primer varied from 5 to 8 bands with molecular weight ranging from 200 to 300 bp with normally 5 bands each primer. Mostly, all the samples showed monomorphic bands except for few samples (Nan1, Nar1 and Nar5). Genetic diversity ranged from 0.147 in Nankana (Nm = 3.356) to 0.181 in Narowal (Nm = 3.751), with total heterozygosity 0.452 (Nm = 0.452). Dendrogram revealed two groups; interestingly Narowal sample, Nar1 showed close relatedness with Nankana samples. The results indicate that there is low level of genetic variation both in and between A. dorsata populations from Nankana and Narowal. In addition, Nm value shows that there is quite small level of migration existed. Further genetic investigations including gene flow and genetic affinity are needed to preserve the biodiversity of A. dorosata of these areas to preserve the biodiversity of the endemic races of honey bees in south East Asian region.