Evaluating the Load mass of foragers enhances the pre-selection of Apis cerana koreana honey bees for honey production

• Published in: Journal of Asia-Pacific entomology Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 102077 - 8
• Main Authors: Frunze, Olga, Won Kim, Dong, Bae Kim, Su, Sun Park, Bo, N. Akongte, Peter, Soo Choi, Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2023; 한국응용곤충학회
• Subjects: A load mass; Acfor gene; Forager bees; Honey bee selection; Honey production; Nectar crop; 농학; A load mass; Forager bees; Nectar crop; Honey production; Honey bee selection; Acfor gene
• ISSN: 1226-8615; 1876-7990
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2023.102077

[Display omitted] •The improved pre-selection of the Apis cerana koreana honey bees was performed.•Nine forager performance traits were analyzed.•Traditional methods and Acfor gene expression showed no difference between honey bees.•X-line honey bees were selected based on high Load Mass10 and Load Mass30.•Recommended pre-selection of honey bees reduces nectar flow dependency. Improving honey yield is a crucial concern in global beekeeping. Typically, honey extraction is used simultaneously to collect honey and assess honey bees, but this can vary from year to year, which has led to the development of alternative selection methods. The aim of this study was to analyze honey-related traits in order to update honey bee pre-selection methods. Apis cerana koreana X, R lines, RX crossbred were evaluated using traditional (Weekly honey control and Cut-honey) methods, internal morphological traits (Load mass10, Load mass30, Load massAll, Maximal Load massAll, Load (%), and Nectar crop weight), and Acfor gene expression. X-line colonies were selected for significantly higher (P < 0.0001) Load mass10, and Load mass30 which had high discriminatory power (P < 0.0001) and low positive correlation to traditional methods. Our observations can be used for improving the method of honey bee selection for honey production and reducing dependence on nectar flow. However, further testing on Apis mellifera honey bees is necessary to confirm the universality of these criteria.