Microsatellite DNA polymorphism in selectively controlled Apis mellifera carnica and Apis mellifera caucasica populations from Poland

Genetic polymorphism in selectively controlled honeybee populations of A. m. carnica and A. m. caucasica in Poland, was characterized by microsatellite DNA analysis. All honeybee samples were analyzed for nine microsatellite loci: Ac011; A024; A043; A088; Ap226; Ap238; Ap243; Ap249 and Ap256, which were found to be polymorphic in both populations. The mean number of alleles per locus was 6.222 for A. m. carnica and 4.556 for A. m. caucasica. Average observed and expected heterozygosity values were calculated as 0.976 and 0.734 in A. m. carnica and as 0.933 and 0.603 in A. m. caucasica, respectively. For the nine microsatellite loci, a total of 76 alleles were found in both populations. Thirty-five private alleles were observed in A. m. carnica and 20 in A. m. caucasica. Information about allele frequencies, FST values and genotypic differentiation is given. Nei’s genetic distance between studied populations of A. m. carnica and A. m. caucasica was calculated as 0.384