Genetic Trends and Parameters of Honey Production, Swarming and Defense Behavior in Iranian Honeybee ( Apis mellifera meda ) Colonies

Abstract

Genetic parameters were estimated in a base and clo sed population of Iranian honeybee colonies. Data were obtained on 500-700 Iranian nat ive population of honeybee colonies (honeybee breeding project in central region of Ira n) subject to 9 successive generation of selection. These populations had been selected for honey production, swarming behavior, and defense behavior. Heritability of honey product ion, swarming behavior, and defense behavior were 0.22, 0.34, and 0.44, respectively. P henotypic and genetic correlations between honey production with swarming tendency and defense behavior were -0.16, - 0.59, and 0.21, 0.48, respectively. Phenotypic and genetic correlations between swarming and defense behavior were -0.52 and -0.67 respectiv ely. The genetic and phenotypic trends of swarming behavior, defense behavior, and honey p roduction in the honeybee colonies during the 1999-2009 were desirable. Lower heritabi lity of honey production and its higher dependence on apiary management and environm ental or climatic factors caused lower improvement of honey production in breeding p lans. Keywords: Breeding, Defense behavior, Honey production, Iran , Swarming behavior .