Abstract: Honeybees from Kenya were evaluated for foraging and stinging behaviours at the colony level. Stability for plenty of honey and/or pollen reserves was established for each colony to prevent bees from absconding. Microsatellite markers were selected by mapping them to honeybees QTLs for stinging and foraging behaviour. Six QTLs namely sting-1, sting-2, sting-3, for stinging response and pln-1, pln-2 and pln-3, for foraging behaviour were considered. Association studies showed that on average colonies stored more nectar (69%) than pollen (31%). The χ2 correlation coefficient between sting and pln (0.184458) showed they are positively correlated suggesting that defensive colonies forage for nectar more than the less defensive ones. Candidate gene search identified three genes each associated with foraging (GB46589, GB44258, GB44259) and stinging behaviour (GB48999, GB49000, GB55730). QTLs gene identification amongst African honeybee races is crucial for harnessing their economic important traits for breeding, conservation and productivity efforts.
Keywords: Microsatellite, Apis mellifera, Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs), Aggressiveness, Foraging.
Title: Identification of Genes Associated With Foraging and Stinging Behaviours in Feral Honeybee (Apis Mellifera) Races in Kenya
Author: Harrison G. Kibogo, Anne W.T. Muigai, Nelly Ndung’u, Joseph K. Ng’ang’a
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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