RESUMO
The mite Varroa destructor is the main pest causing damage to apiculture worldwide. In Brazil and other parts of the world, where bees of African origin and their hybrids predominate, the bees can survive these mites without treatment. Studies have shown a correlation between the various genotypes of the mite and its fertility in different geographical regions. Information about mite genotype could be helpful in understanding the diverse effects and relationships of the mite with bees in different regions of the world. DNA analysis by RAPD technique has permitted identification of three distinct genotypes in the mite V. destructor, namely Russian, Japanese and Papua New Guinea. We found predominance of the Russian genotype in Brazil, along with other parts of South America, and in Cuba and Mexico. The Japanese genotype was exclusively found on Fernando de Noronha Island in Brazil.
Assuntos
Técnica de Amplificação ao Acaso de DNA Polimórfico/métodos , Varroidae/genética , América , Animais , Brasil , Eletroforese em Gel de Ágar , GenótipoRESUMO
The mite Varroa destructor is an ectoparasite that is considered a major pest for beekeeping with European honey bees. However, Africanized bee colonies are less threatened by this ectoparasite, because infestation levels remain low in these bees. The low reproductive ability of female mites of the Japanese biotype (J), introduced to Brazil early in the 1970s was initially considered the main factor for the lack of virulence of this parasite on Africanized bees. In other regions of the world where the Korean (K) biotype of this mite was introduced, there have been serious problems with Varroa due to the high reproductive potential of the mite. However, a significant increase in the reproductive rate of females of Varroa in Brazil has been recently demonstrated; the cause could be a change in the type of Varroa in the bee colonies. We evaluated the prevalence of haplotypes J and K in mite samples collected from the State of Santa Catarina and from the island of Fernando de Noronha in the State of Pernambuco. The analysis of the mitochondrial genome (PCR + RFLP) revealed haplotype K in all samples from Santa Catarina and haplotype J in all samples from Fernando de Noronha. The analysis of microsatellites (nuclear genome) in bees from Fernando de Noronha showed only the specific alleles of haplotype J, while in bees from Santa Catarina, these alleles were found in only 2.8% of the samples. The high frequency of individuals with Korean genetic material is probably to the reason for the current high reproductive capacity of the mite V. destructor recorded in Santa Catarina.
Assuntos
Abelhas/parasitologia , Ácaros/genética , Animais , Brasil , DNA Mitocondrial/genética , Complexo IV da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/genética , Feminino , Repetições de Microssatélites/genética , Ácaros/enzimologia , Mapeamento por RestriçãoRESUMO
Within the Meliponini, a widely distributed group of stingless bees, Melipona rufiventris has been considered as a single, cohesive species. Recently, analysis of morphological characters led to the splitting of this species into two species, M. mondury and M. rufiventris. The former occurs in the Atlantic Rain Forest ranging from Santa Catarina to Bahia States, while the latter is found in other parts of Brazil. We used PCR + RFLP to identify genetic marker patterns of the mtDNA between these species. Nine mtDNA regions were amplified and digested with four restriction enzymes (EcoRI, EcoRV, HindIII, and HinfI). Six species-specific restriction sites were identified for M. mondury and M. rufiventris with all enzymes, except for HindIII. The molecular data agree with the morphological classification.
Assuntos
Abelhas/genética , DNA Mitocondrial/genética , Variação Genética/genética , Genoma de Inseto/genética , Animais , Abelhas/classificação , Abelhas/enzimologia , Brasil , Marcadores Genéticos/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
Within the Meliponini, a widely distributed group of stingless bees, Melipona rufiventris has been considered as a single, cohesive species. Recently, analysis of morphological characters led to the splitting of this species into two species, M. mondury and M. rufiventris. The former occurs in the Atlantic Rain Forest ranging from Santa Catarina to Bahia States, while the latter is found in other parts of Brazil. We used PCR + RFLP to identify genetic marker patterns of the mtDNA between these species. Nine mtDNA regions were amplified and digested with four restriction enzymes (EcoRI, EcoRV, HindIII, and HinfI). Six species-specific restriction sites were identified for M. mondury and M. rufiventris with all enzymes, except for HindIII. The molecular data agree with the morphological classification.
