New COI-COII mtDNA Region Haplotypes in the Endemic Honey Bees Apis mellifera intermissa and Apis mellifera sahariensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Algeria.

Simple Summary: Currently, one of the most raised issues regarding the preservation of endemic honey bees is the importation of foreign subspecies, leading to genetic introgression and hybridization between subspecies. In Algeria, many beekeepers have reported importing foreign honey bees, notably the Italian Apis mellifera ligustica, for their high honey production. In order to provide a molecular characterization and a better knowledge of the genetic background of the Algerian honey bees subspecies A. m. intermissa and A. m. sahariensis, we analyzed the widely used COI-COII mitochondrial marker. In this study, we sequenced 139 drones of which 68 were from 20 regions in Algeria, and 71 individuals as a reference population, sampled in Europe, the South West Indian Ocean archipelagos, and Madagascar, representing the evolutionary lineages M, C, and A. As a result, we found that all Algerian samples belong to the African lineage A with the identification of 24 haplotypes, of which 16 are reported for the first time. The reference population shows ten different haplotypes distributed over the three lineages, with the identification of a new haplotype carried by two individuals sampled in France. The results of this survey show the absence of evidence of genetic introgression between Algerian and European honey bees. The practice of beekeeping in Algeria is of great cultural, social, and economic importance. However, the importation of non-local subspecies reported by beekeepers has disrupted the natural geographical distribution area and the genetic diversity of the native honey bees. To assess the genetic diversity of A. m. intermissa and A. m. sahariensis, and their relationships with African and European subspecies, the COI-COII intergenic region was analyzed in 335 individuals, 68 sampled in Algeria, 71 in Europe, Madagascar, and the South West Indian Ocean archipelagos, and 196 sequences recovered from GenBank. The results show the presence of the A lineage exclusively in Algerian samples with the identification of 24 haplotypes of which 16 are described for the first time. These haplotypes were found to be shared by both subspecies, with A74 being the most common haplotype in the population studied. The sequence comparison indicates the existence of three polymorphisms of the COI-COII marker: P0Q, P0QQ, and P0QQQ. One new haplotype was identified in the M lineage in samples from France. No evidence of genetic introgression within the Algerian honey bee population was detected. These data enhance our knowledge of the genetic diversity and emphasize the importance of protecting these local subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]