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INDICATORS OF THE NEW SELECTED-BREEDING GROUP OF THE BOZDAG CAUCASIAN BEE BREED (Apis mellifera caucasica) IN AZERBAIJAN

Year 2025, Volume: 25 Issue: 2, 197 - 209

Abstract

A research work was conducted in the Lesser Caucasus region to create and reproduce a new productive selection-breeding group of the Bozdag Caucasian bee breed (Apis mellifera caucasica) Kabaktapa population (populatio Wabagkendik Sultanov). The research was conducted in the “Beekeeping Center” in the Goranboy district of the Scientific Research Institute of Animal Husbandry of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Artificial selection was carried out on 30 bee colonies that met normal standards and were similar in origin, number of bees in the hive, feed, and bee growth. Among the 30 bee colonies, 5 bee colonies (No. 9, 17, 28, 31, and 34) with the highest quality indicators were selected for selection-breeding work. The ability of female queens No. 9, 17, 28, 31, and 34 to pass their quality and productivity indicators onto the next generation was determined in the following year. New queens were bred from 5 bee colonies, and 10 female queens were selected from each colony and adopted into 50 strong colonies. As a result of the selection and breeding work carried out on the Kabaktapa population of bees, a breeding bee group was created that can pass on good traits such as long proboscis, high nectar collection, low brood production, calm behaviour, etc. to the next generation.

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval is not required for this study because no harm was done to nature and the environment.

Supporting Institution

The Scientific Research Institute of Animal Husbandry

Thanks

The author respectfully extends sincere appreciation to the Scientific Research Institute of Animal Husbandry of the Republic of Azerbaijan for providing the necessary facilities and institutional support throughout the course of this study. Special acknowledgment is due to the personnel of the “Beekeeping Center” in Goranboy district for their cooperation and technical assistance during the experimental processes. The author also wishes to thank the specialists and consultants in apiculture and animal genetics, whose expert advice and constructive feedback significantly contributed to the scientific value and integrity of this work.

References

  • REFERENCES Aliyeva V.R. Quality indicators of queen bees of the newly created breeding group of the Kabaktapa population of the Gray Mountain Caucasian breed. In Proceedings of the International Scientific-Practical Conference on Actual Problems of Sustainable Development of Rural Areas and Human Resources in the Agricultural Sector, 2021; (pp. 188–191).
  • Aliyeva V.R. Morphometric assessment of drones of the Kabaktapa breeding group of the Gray Mountain Caucasian breed (Apis mellifera caucasica Gorbachev). Agrarian Science, 2022; 6, 58–61.
  • Bilaş G. & Krivtsov N.I. Bee breeding. Moscow, 1991.
  • Canverdi N.P., Ozbakir G.O., et al. The effects of altitude and rearing period on some characteristics of honey bee queens, Apis mellifera caucasica Gorbachev, 1916 (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Turkish Journal of Entomology, 2023; 47(3), 295–306. https://doi.org/10.16970/entoted.1270344
  • Ilyasov R.A., Lee M.I., Takahashi J.i., Kwon H.W. Nikolenko A.G. A revision of subspecies structure of western honey bee Apis mellifera. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2020; 27(12), 3615–3621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.08.001.
  • Ilyasov R.A., Nikolenko A., Tuktarov V., Goto K., Takahashi J.I., Kwon H.W. Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes of the honey bee subspecies A. m. caucasica and A. m. carpathica and refinement of their evolutionary lineages. Journal of Apicultural Research, 2019; 58(4), 567–579. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2019.1622320
  • Jensen A.B., Rueppell O., Michaud F., Rangel J. Advances in honey bee breeding: Genomic tools and strategies. Genetics Selection Evolution, 2022; 54(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-022-00725-w
  • Kamboj R., Sharma S.K. Comparative quality traits of Apis mellifera L. queens raised through standard queen rearing methods in the spring breeding season. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 2023; 13(11), 1668–1678.
  • Kandemir I., De la Rúa P. Conservation and management of honeybee genetic diversity in Eurasia. Apidologie, (2023); 54(2), 147–160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-023-00957-w
  • Kara M., Sezgi E., Kara A. Importance of Caucasian honeybee and its characteristics as a gene resource. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 2012; 2(10), 1197–1202.
  • Kaskinova M.D., Gaifullina L.R., Saltykova E.S. The genetic characteristics of the Gray Mountain Caucasian bee Apis mellifera caucasica. Russian Journal of Genetics, 2024; 60(8), 1134–1138.
  • Kosoglu M., Oskay D. Honeybee breeding and some basic approaches. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2021; 6(3), 593–609.
  • Moritz R.F.A., Erler, S. Population genetics and conservation of honeybees in Europe. Conservation Genetics, 2020; 21(5), 813–826. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-020-01279-6
  • Omarov A., Ojaghi J., Kandemir I. Morphometric, genetic, and competitive study of the Grey Mountain Honeybee populations (Apis mellifera caucasia) in Azerbaijan. Khazar Journal of Science and Technology, 2020; 4(2), 5–14.
  • Oztokmak A., Ozbakir G. O., Caghlar O. Conservation of local honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in Southeastern Turkey: A preliminary study for morphological characterization and determination of colony performance. Animals (Basel), 2023; 13, 2194. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132194
  • Rasovic M.B. The importance of applying good beekeeping practice in the production of beekeeping products in Montenegro. Journal of Hygienic Engineering and Design, 2022; 38, 52–57.
  • Rehman N.U., Anjum S.I., Qureshi N.A. The effect of larval age, and wet and dry grafting, on the rearing of queen bees using the Doolittle grafting method. Journal of Entomological Research, 2023; 2–7.
  • Ruttner F. Biogeography and Taxonomy of Honey Bees. Springer-Verlag, 1988.
  • Ruttner F., Tassencourt L., Louveaux J. Biometrical-statistical analysis of the geographic variability of Apis mellifera L.: I. Material and methods. Apidologie, 1978; 9, 363–381.
  • Salehi S., Nazemi-Rafie J. Discrimination of Iranian honeybee populations (Apis mellifera meda) from commercial subspecies of Apis mellifera L. using morphometric and genetic methods. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 2020; 23, 591–598.
  • Sultanov R.L.. Biological characteristics of honey bees in Azerbaijan. Baku, Part II, 1993.
  • Uzunov A., Büchler R., Hatjina F., Wilde J., Costa C., Bienefeld K. et al. A. Genetic structure and subspecies diversity of local honey bee populations across the Caucasus. Journal of Apicultural Research, 2021; 60(3), 355–367. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2020.1866979
  • Yi Y., Liu Y. B., Barron A.B., Zeng Z.J. x Effects of commercial queen rearing methods on queen fecundity and genome methylation. Apidologie, 2021; 52, 282–291.

Azerbaycan'da Bozdağ Kafkas Arısı Irkının (Apis mellifera caucasica) Yeni Seçilen ıslah Grubuna Ait Göstergeler

Year 2025, Volume: 25 Issue: 2, 197 - 209

Abstract

Küçük Kafkasya bölgesinde, Bozdağ Kafkas arısı ırkının (Apis mellifera L. caucasica Gorbachev) Gabagtepe popülasyonu (populatio Wabagkendik Sultanov) temelinde yeni ve verimli bir seçim-ıslah grubu oluşturmak ve çoğaltmak amacıyla bir araştırma gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma, Azerbaycan Cumhuriyeti Hayvancılık Bilimsel Araştırma Enstitüsü'nün Goranboy ilçesinde bulunan "Arıcılık Merkezi"nde yürütülmüştür. Genetik kökeni, kovandaki arı sayısı, beslenme ve gelişim yönünden benzer özellikler taşıyan 30 arı kolonisi üzerinde yapay seleksiyon uygulanmıştır. Bu koloniler arasından en yüksek kalite göstergelerine sahip 5 koloni (9, 17, 28, 31 ve 34 numaralı) ıslah çalışmalarında kullanılmak üzere seçilmiştir. Takip eden yıl içerisinde, bu beş koloniden elde edilen kraliçe arıların kalite ve verimlilik özelliklerini bir sonraki nesle aktarma kabiliyeti değerlendirilmiştir. Her bir koloni için yetiştirilen 10 kraliçe arı, güçlü 50 koloniye adapte edilmiştir. Gabagtepe arı popülasyonu üzerinde yürütülen bu seçim ve ıslah çalışmaları sonucunda, uzun hortum, yüksek nektar toplama yeteneği, düşük yavru üretimi, sakin davranış gibi olumlu özellikleri gelecek nesillere aktarabilen yeni bir ıslah grubu oluşturulmuştur.

Ethical Statement

Doğaya ve çevreye herhangi bir zarar verilmediği için bu çalışma için etik onaya gerek yoktur.

Supporting Institution

Hayvancılık Bilimsel Araştırma Enstitüsü

Thanks

Yazar, bu çalışma boyunca gerekli olanakları ve kurumsal desteği sağladığı için Azerbaycan Cumhuriyeti Hayvancılık Bilimsel Araştırma Enstitüsü'ne içten teşekkürlerini sunar. Deneysel süreçler sırasında işbirlikleri ve teknik yardımları için Goranboy bölgesindeki "Arıcılık Merkezi" personeline özel teşekkür borçludur. Yazar ayrıca, uzman tavsiyeleri ve yapıcı geri bildirimleriyle bu çalışmanın bilimsel değerine ve bütünlüğüne önemli ölçüde katkıda bulunan arıcılık ve hayvan genetiği uzmanlarına ve danışmanlarına teşekkür etmek ister.

References

  • REFERENCES Aliyeva V.R. Quality indicators of queen bees of the newly created breeding group of the Kabaktapa population of the Gray Mountain Caucasian breed. In Proceedings of the International Scientific-Practical Conference on Actual Problems of Sustainable Development of Rural Areas and Human Resources in the Agricultural Sector, 2021; (pp. 188–191).
  • Aliyeva V.R. Morphometric assessment of drones of the Kabaktapa breeding group of the Gray Mountain Caucasian breed (Apis mellifera caucasica Gorbachev). Agrarian Science, 2022; 6, 58–61.
  • Bilaş G. & Krivtsov N.I. Bee breeding. Moscow, 1991.
  • Canverdi N.P., Ozbakir G.O., et al. The effects of altitude and rearing period on some characteristics of honey bee queens, Apis mellifera caucasica Gorbachev, 1916 (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Turkish Journal of Entomology, 2023; 47(3), 295–306. https://doi.org/10.16970/entoted.1270344
  • Ilyasov R.A., Lee M.I., Takahashi J.i., Kwon H.W. Nikolenko A.G. A revision of subspecies structure of western honey bee Apis mellifera. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2020; 27(12), 3615–3621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.08.001.
  • Ilyasov R.A., Nikolenko A., Tuktarov V., Goto K., Takahashi J.I., Kwon H.W. Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes of the honey bee subspecies A. m. caucasica and A. m. carpathica and refinement of their evolutionary lineages. Journal of Apicultural Research, 2019; 58(4), 567–579. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2019.1622320
  • Jensen A.B., Rueppell O., Michaud F., Rangel J. Advances in honey bee breeding: Genomic tools and strategies. Genetics Selection Evolution, 2022; 54(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-022-00725-w
  • Kamboj R., Sharma S.K. Comparative quality traits of Apis mellifera L. queens raised through standard queen rearing methods in the spring breeding season. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 2023; 13(11), 1668–1678.
  • Kandemir I., De la Rúa P. Conservation and management of honeybee genetic diversity in Eurasia. Apidologie, (2023); 54(2), 147–160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-023-00957-w
  • Kara M., Sezgi E., Kara A. Importance of Caucasian honeybee and its characteristics as a gene resource. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 2012; 2(10), 1197–1202.
  • Kaskinova M.D., Gaifullina L.R., Saltykova E.S. The genetic characteristics of the Gray Mountain Caucasian bee Apis mellifera caucasica. Russian Journal of Genetics, 2024; 60(8), 1134–1138.
  • Kosoglu M., Oskay D. Honeybee breeding and some basic approaches. Journal of Applied Sciences, 2021; 6(3), 593–609.
  • Moritz R.F.A., Erler, S. Population genetics and conservation of honeybees in Europe. Conservation Genetics, 2020; 21(5), 813–826. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-020-01279-6
  • Omarov A., Ojaghi J., Kandemir I. Morphometric, genetic, and competitive study of the Grey Mountain Honeybee populations (Apis mellifera caucasia) in Azerbaijan. Khazar Journal of Science and Technology, 2020; 4(2), 5–14.
  • Oztokmak A., Ozbakir G. O., Caghlar O. Conservation of local honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in Southeastern Turkey: A preliminary study for morphological characterization and determination of colony performance. Animals (Basel), 2023; 13, 2194. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132194
  • Rasovic M.B. The importance of applying good beekeeping practice in the production of beekeeping products in Montenegro. Journal of Hygienic Engineering and Design, 2022; 38, 52–57.
  • Rehman N.U., Anjum S.I., Qureshi N.A. The effect of larval age, and wet and dry grafting, on the rearing of queen bees using the Doolittle grafting method. Journal of Entomological Research, 2023; 2–7.
  • Ruttner F. Biogeography and Taxonomy of Honey Bees. Springer-Verlag, 1988.
  • Ruttner F., Tassencourt L., Louveaux J. Biometrical-statistical analysis of the geographic variability of Apis mellifera L.: I. Material and methods. Apidologie, 1978; 9, 363–381.
  • Salehi S., Nazemi-Rafie J. Discrimination of Iranian honeybee populations (Apis mellifera meda) from commercial subspecies of Apis mellifera L. using morphometric and genetic methods. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 2020; 23, 591–598.
  • Sultanov R.L.. Biological characteristics of honey bees in Azerbaijan. Baku, Part II, 1993.
  • Uzunov A., Büchler R., Hatjina F., Wilde J., Costa C., Bienefeld K. et al. A. Genetic structure and subspecies diversity of local honey bee populations across the Caucasus. Journal of Apicultural Research, 2021; 60(3), 355–367. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2020.1866979
  • Yi Y., Liu Y. B., Barron A.B., Zeng Z.J. x Effects of commercial queen rearing methods on queen fecundity and genome methylation. Apidologie, 2021; 52, 282–291.
There are 23 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Bee and Silkworm Breeding and Improvement
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Vusale Aliyeva 0009-0004-7053-7556

Early Pub Date November 5, 2025
Publication Date November 8, 2025
Submission Date April 26, 2025
Acceptance Date September 18, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 25 Issue: 2

Cite

Vancouver Aliyeva V. INDICATORS OF THE NEW SELECTED-BREEDING GROUP OF THE BOZDAG CAUCASIAN BEE BREED (Apis mellifera caucasica) IN AZERBAIJAN. U. Arı. D.-U. Bee J. 2025;25(2):197-209.

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