Breeding Program Design Principles for Royal Jelly

This research was carried out to infer the genetic value to produce royal jelly in Africanized Apis mellifera L. honeybees with the compilation of data collected from 2006 to 2011. Genetic information of the selected and accessed colonies was obtained using the total DNA extraction techniques of nurse honeybees’ thorax with molecular markers for MRJP3 protein and characterized in Apis mellifera L. From the information on the colonies and genealogical structure were predicted genetic values of the colonies and queens for the larvae acceptance trait (%), royal jelly per colony (g), and royal jelly per cup (mg). Animal model with Bayesian Inference was used from Multiple Trait Gibbs Sampling software in Animal Models, Gibbs chains 58,500 cycles resulting from 650,000 cycles with intervals and disposal of 65,000 and 10 withdraw, respectively. From the predicted values, the colonies were classified into upper and lower. To compare the average of the genetic values according to the genotypes, the average multiple comparison tests were proceeded and implemented in routine PROC GENMOD from the Statistical Analysis System. Environmental effects were considered, time and hive type (standard Langstroth) as having flat distribution and collection as chi-square distribution. The studies presented an increase in the alleles C and D and the alleles D and E—referring to MRJPs—found in the highest genetic value for royal jelly production. Alleles D, E, and C are important when evaluating the parameters larvae acceptance, royal jelly per colony, and royal jelly per cup and, occasionally, it was the DE genotype that stood out royal jelly production. Genotypes DE, DC, and EC are those that should be kept in this evaluation system for royal jelly production, and the other genotypes should be discarded because they had the worst performance for the parameters evaluated

Varroa destructor mite in Africanized honeybee colonies Apis mellifera L. under royal jelly or honey production

This study evaluated the level of invasion of Varroa mite into worker brood cells, the infestation rate on adult worker honeybees, total and effective reproduction rates of the mite in Africanized honeybee colonies under royal jelly or honey production. Invasion and infestation rates were not statistically different between honeybee colonies producing honey or royal jelly and the averages for these parameters were 5.79 and 8.54%, respectively. Colonies producing honey presented a higher (p < 0.05) total and effective reproduction of Varroathan colonies producing royal jelly. There was a negative correlation between levels of invasion and infestation with minimum external temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. The variables month and season influenced the development of the mite, but rates were low and within the range normally found in Brazil for Africanized honeybee colonies, which confirm the greater resistance of these honeybees to Varroa destructor than European honeybees

Basics for breeding native bees: feeding and multiplication

Meliponines are important pollinators of tropical forest species, and an interesting feature of these is the possibility of their creation rationally. The present review highlights the importance of native bees and key points that can boost breeding. Despite its importance to the ecosystem, there are factors that have contributed to the reduction of bees, among them, the intensive occupation of the environment by man, causing impacts through the elimination of food sources. Like any other organism, bees need nutrients for their growth and its scarcity has harmful effects on the development of colonies. Despite its importance the study of artificial diets that can supply the needs of the bees in periods of low availability of food are still insufficient. To supply the lack of nectar one can look for the supply of an energetic food based on the mixture of water and sugar, however there are few studies aiming at the elaboration of protein supplements that can replace the pollen. Studies with complementary supplements enable creators to increase their creation through division and multiplication of colonies. However there is a lack of techniques that would allow the growth and increase of meliponicola production in the country

Produção de geleia real em colônias de abelhas africanizadas considerando diferentes suplementos proteicos e a influência de fatores ambientais - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v32i1.6836

This research was carried out to evaluate the effect of proteic supplement on royal jelly production in honeybee colonies and its correlation with environmental variables. The treatments were: colonies that had received a diet formulated with 35% crude protein, colonies that had received a commercial supplement with 35% crude protein, and colonies that did not receive protein diet. There was no difference (p > 0.05) among the treatments for parameters of production. The average for each variable was: amount accepted larvae, 8.56 ± 6.76; acceptance percentage, 29.20 ± 22.03%; amount of royal jelly produced per colony, 1.83 ± 0.82 g; and amount of royal jelly produced per cup, 213.58 ± 108.36 mg. Rainfall did not affect (p > 0.05) royal jelly production. The selected models point to a negative correlation among larvae accepted with the maximum temperature and low relative humidity. Larvae acceptance and royal jelly production per cup had a positive correlation with the maximum relative humidity and negative correlation with the minimum relative humidity. It can be concluded that the addition of proteic supplement (35%) did not increase royal jelly production of Africanized honeybee colonies, and its use for this purpose was unprofitableO objetivo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação proteica sobre a produção de geleia real em colônias de Apis mellifera e correlacionar esta produção com as variáveis climáticas. Os tratamentos foram: colônias que receberam uma ração elaborada com 35% de proteína; colônias que receberam suplemento proteico comercial com 35% de proteína bruta e colônias que não receberam ração proteica. Não houve diferença (p > 0,05) entre os tratamentos para as variáveis de produção. As médias foram: quantidade de larvas aceitas, 8,56 ± 6,76; porcentagem de aceitação, 29,20 ± 22,03%; quantidade de geleia real produzida por colônia, 1,83 ± 0,82 g e quantidade produzida por cúpula, 213,58 ± 108,36 mg. A precipitação pluviométrica não influenciou (p > 0,05) a produção de geleia real. Os modelos selecionados evidenciaram que houve efeito negativo da temperatura máxima e umidade relativa mínima do ar com número de larvas aceitas. Observou-se que a porcentagem de aceitação de larvas e a produção de geleia real por colônias apresentaram correlação positiva com a umidade relativa máxima e negativa com a umidade relativa mínima. Pode-se concluir que a adição de suplemento proteico (35%) não aumentou a produção de geleia real das colônias de abelhas africanizadas e seu uso para esta finalidade foi economicamente inviável

Viabilidade financeira da produção de geleia real com abelhas africanizadas suplementadas com diferentes nutrientes =Financial viability in royal jelly production with Africanized honey bees supplemented with different nutrients

O objetivo foi avaliar a viabilidade financeira do fornecimento de cinco suplementos elaborados com diferentes fontes de óleo e proteína para abelhas africanizadas submetidas à produção de geleia real. Foi verificado se os investimentos com a suplementação das colônias proporcionam rentabilidade aos apicultores, a fim de proporcionar opções lucrativas para diversificação dos produtos apícolas. Para avaliar os cinco suplementos, realizaram-se dois ensaios experimentais. Em cada ensaio, 20 recrias foram divididas aleatoriamente em quatro tratamentos. Foram realizadas 15 observações por recria. No ensaio I, os tratamentos foram: óleo de linhaça mais óleo de palma, óleo de linhaça, óleo de palma e controle sem suplementação. No ensaio II, proteína isolada de soja mais levedo de cerveja, proteína isolada de soja, levedo de cerveja e controle sem suplementação. Foram determinados os seguintes indicadores financeiros de produção: receita operacional líquida, custo total, lucro e relação benefício-custo. Suplementos elaborados com mistura de óleos de linhaça mais óleo de palma e proteína isolada de soja maislevedo de cerveja produziram uma relação entre o lucro obtido e o valor calculado dos custos indiretos de produção de 2,58 e 2,50, respectivamente, diferindo do controle (p This study was carried out to evaluate the financial viability of five supplements made with different sources of oil and protein, to be given to Africanized honeybees for royal jelly production. The study verified whether the investments with colony supplementation give financial returns to beekeepers, increasing profits for thediversification of bee products. In order to evaluate the five supplements, two experimental assays were performed. In each, 20 colonies were distributed randomly in four treatments, with 15 replications per colony. In assay I, the treatments were: linseed oil plus palm oil supplement, linseed oil, palm oil, and control without supplementation. In assay II, isolated soy protein plus brewer’s yeast, isolated soy protein, brewer’s yeast, and control without supplementation were evaluated. The following production financial indicators were determined: net operating income, total cost, profit and benefit-cost ratio. Supplements made with mixtures of linseed oil plus palm oil and isolated soy protein plus beer yeast showed ratios between the obtained profit and the calculated values for indirect production costs of 2.58 and 2.50, respectively, differing from the control (p < 0.05), which indicates it is economically viable to supplement Africanized honey bees in royal jelly production when compared to other treatments and control without supplementation

Potential use of major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) as molecular markers for royal jelly production in Africanized honeybee colonies

The present study determined the genetic variation at mrjps loci (mrjp3, mrjp5 and mrjp8) and evaluated the potential use of MRJPs as molecular markers for higher royal jelly production in Africanized honeybee colonies. The three analyzed loci produced a total of 17 alleles. This high allelic polymorphism indicated these loci could serve as genetic markers. The potential use of MRJPs as molecular markers for royal jelly production was evaluated by analyses of multiple linear regressions with EPD (expected progeny differences) values for royal jelly production. The variance analyses indicated that the mrjp3 repetitive region influenced the genetic value of queen’s offspring for royal jelly production. The determination coefficient (R2) for the significant alleles of the repetitive region of mrjp3 indicated that 36.85% of the EPD variation is explained by the variation of C, D and E alleles. Therefore, these three alleles present a considerable genetic effect on the variation of RJ production