Location: Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research
Title: Utilizing whole genome sequencing to identify genomic signatures across US commercial honey bee lines.Author
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Submitted to: University of California Publications in Entomology
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/18/2019 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Molecular markers have been a powerful tool in breeding for traits of interest. Their use enables greater resolution and efficacy of the selective process. Implementation of marker-assisted selection in honey bees has historically met with limited success. An important barrier has been poor characterization of the genetic diversity in the greater US honey bee population, as well as within economically relevant stocks. In this study, begin to overcome this limitation by examining four common-use breeding stocks (Koehnen Italian (CA), Kona Italian, Strachan Carniolan, Koehnen Cariolan,) and three stocks from distinct selection programs focusing on improving honey bee colony health (Russian, Minnesota Hygienic, Pol-line). We use a pooled sequencing approach to identify markers associated with stock variation and examine signals of artificial selection. Analysis of stock specific variation can serve efforts to easily identify and categorize genetic groups with a high degree of discriminatory power. Our approach will also allow for a greater understanding of the landscape of selection in those stocks bred for critically important traits such as Varroa Sensitive Hygiene. Results of this sequencing effort will produce a robust data set that can serve as reference for analyses of genetic diversity across honey bee populations and also localize regions of interest in honey bee health traits facilitating future efforts for the development of marker assisted selection techniques. |
