Using Electrophoretic Characteristics of Thoracic Proteins in the Separation of Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Populations in Iran

An important and fundamental step in breeding honeybees is the separation of honeybee populations in Iran. During the years 1992-1996, several research works were directed towards the investigation of genetic populations of the Iranian honeybee (Apis mellifera L.), using biochemical methods. For this purpose, samples of worker bees were taken from 251 colonies of 115 apiaries in 84 cities in 21 provinces. The biochemical studies were conducted on thoracic proteins of worker bees using the horizontal electrophoresis. The thoracic proteins of worker bees from the north and east populations isolated by electrophoretic techniques lacked a protein band having molecular weight of about 100,000 daltons. The results obtained from morphological and biochemical techniques and segregation of populations, indicate that breeding centers can be established in northern as well as western and central regions of Iran to improve genetic potentials of Iranian honeybee population.