Genetic differentiation of the honey bee (Apis cerana) in Thailandrevealed by polymorphism of a large subunit of mitochondrial ribosomal DNA

摘要

The large subunit of the ribosomal (Ir) RNA gene of Thai Apis cerana was amplified and sequenced. The average sequence divergence among geographically diverse bees was 1.13% (0.15% - 1.70%, n = 8). Based on these nucleotide sequences, genetic differentiation analysis of A. cerana was simplified to a RFLP based on Dra I. Four haplotypes of digested lrRNA gene were observed. Haplotype A was found in north, north-east and the central region (collectively called the north-to-central sample) whereas haplotype B was restricted to specimens from peninsular Thailand, Phuket and Samui Islands (collectively called the southern sample). Haplotype C was found in 47.06% of A. cerana originating from Samui Island but was not found in other geographic samples. Geographic heterogeneity analysis and F-ST statistics indicated the existence of population differentiation of A. cerana in Thailand (P < 0.0001). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) also illustrated significant genetic differences between bees from the north-to-central region (A), peninsular Thailand and Phuket (B) and Samui Island (C) (P < 0.000 1).