Chinese honeybee is an important genetic resource in China. It distributes widely  and covers a variety of climatic zones. However, the diversity of the group currently has been seriously affected and needs to be protected.

The bee genetics and breeding innovation team in the Bee Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences conducted a research on the genome of Chinese honeybee population, and systematically revealed the population structure, evolution and adaptation of Chinese honeybee. Through the study of the honeybee in 18 regions of China, the team found the degree of differentiation between groups is higher. In some groups, the differentiation reaches the level of subspecies, breaking the international cognition of Chinese honeybee that it is mainly one type. 

The team's analysis of population genetic structure found that there were higher genetic differentiation and lower genetic polymorphisms in island and mountain populations, and there was a stronger gene flow in plain populations. Further analysis found that topographic barriers promoted differentiation between populations, while geographic distance had little effect on genetic differentiation.

Source: ScienceNet.cn

Time: 2018.12.12