MAY | JUNE 2016
Almond Facts
29
WSU has been tracking gains made in genetic diversity
among commercial queen producers and university breeding
programs as a result of their efforts. Results, based upon
surveys for the number of different alleles, show an 18
percent increase in genetic material compared to 20 years
ago. For those commercial operations working directly with
WSU, a 60 percent increase in genetic diversity among stocks
has been found.
Currently, the Germplasm Repository is
preserving the main honey bee subspecies
used by commercial beekeepers in the U.S
– Italian, Carniolan and Caucasian bees.
WSU reintroduced the Caucasian strain
of bees, a cold-weather adapted honey bee.
Another subspecies obtained from germplasm
collections in Old World areas where bees
and pollination originally evolved will be
released in the near future. WSU’s advances
toward building a better bee are greatly
improving breeding potential of US honey
bee stocks and have even been acknowledged
as a national treasure by the USDA National
Animal Germplasm Program.
And Now – VSH
Varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH) is a highly desirable behavioral
trait of honey bees in which they are able to detect and remove
Varroa-infested immature bees. This trait is genetically
inherited and can be increased through selection. Having a
strain of honey bees which can overcome Varroa challenges
without treatment will increase sustainability and productivity
for beekeepers. Breeding commercially-acceptable, Varroa-
sensitive bees is the next step in long-term stock improvement
for the bee industry – it’s imperative we stop the losses
associated with this mite.
In 2008, the USDA began to develop a new population of
honey bees with the VSH trait and desirable pollination
characteristics, named “Pol(linator)-line,” and then began
selecting the best-performing colonies. The USDA will continue
these breeding techniques in the year-round breeding climate
of Hawaii where isolated mating can occur. Hawaii provides an
optimal environment for accelerated VSH trait development.
Under the direction of Dr. Robert Danka, USDA-ARS Honey
Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory, Baton
Rouge, LA, and with close collaboration between bee breeders,
beekeepers and scientists, commercially-acceptable, Varroa-
resistant bees will become more widely available.
Bee breeders and geneticists will continue their commitment
to building a better bee making advances at a far more rapid
pace than we have seen in the past. While stock improvement
in honey bees may be in its infancy compared to the great
strides made in almond variety development, the next few
years will see considerable progress. Between such as those
resources available at WSU and pest-resistant bees developed
by the USDA, we hope to soon see a superb pollinating, high
honey-producing, Varroa-resistant honey bee working your
almond orchards.
Controlled breeding using artificial
insemination is becoming more
prevalent among honey bee queen
breeders. Here, germplasm (drone
semen) is transferred to a queen.
Photo courtesy of WSU.
Work is underway to breed a better bee – an outstanding almond pollinator,
with good honey production capability and resistance to the Varroa mite.
Photo by Christi Heintz.
