PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF DARK EUROPEAN HONEYBEES APIS MELLIFERA MELLIFERA L. FROM THE RUSSIAN URAL AND WEST EUROPEAN POPULATIONS

Abstract

Summary A mitochondrial DNA region covering 5'-end of the gene of the second subunit NADH dehydrogenase (ND2), was PCR amplifi ed in Dark European Honeybees Apis mellifera mellifera from the Urals (Russia) region and in the presumed Apis mellifera macedonica from the Ukraine. Phylogenetic analysis of sequenced DNA samples with GenBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) data showed the existence of four evolutionary branches where the Ural honeybees were grouped with European A. m. mellifera, and Ukrainian honeybees with European A. m. macedonica. These results suggest the genetic relationship of the Russian Urals and the European populations of A. m. mellifera. These data have allowed us to put forward the hypothesis that the subspecies A. m. mellifera, is a unique specimen of evolutionary branch M.