|
Abstract : |
Melipona quadrifasciata ('mandaأ§aia') can be subdivided into two subspecies: M. q. anthidioides and M. q. quadrifasciata. In the present study we used RAPD markers to estimate intercolonial genetic variation among 69 colonies of Melipona quadrifasciata. Ten workers per colony were analyzed. The intercolony genetic distances based on RAPD markers ranged from 29.5% (colonies collected in the State of Sأ£o Paulo vs colonies from the State of Minas Gerais) to 34.2% (Sأ£o Paulo vs Santa Catarina). These results indicate a high genetic similarity among the colonies analyzed.According to the genetic distances two different groups could be distinguished. The first containing the samples from Santa Catarina region and the second, samples from Paranأ،, Sأ£o Paulo, Minas Gerais, and EspØ£Ârito Santo. Based on the molecular analysis, bees belonging to the different subspecies M. q. quadrifasciata (from Santa Catarina) and M. q. anthidioides (from the other regions) were distinguished., |
