Free Access
Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 21, Number 2, 1990
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Page(s) | 153 - 159 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19900209 |
Apidologie 21 (1990) 153-159
DOI: 10.1051/apido:19900209
Plant Research Institute, Burnley Gardens, Swan Street, Richmond Vic, 3121, Australia
Key words: Apis mellifera / honey production / queen genotype / queen fecundity / selection scheme
DOI: 10.1051/apido:19900209
On the relative importance of queens and workers to honey production
B.P. Oldroyd, R.D. Goodman and M.A. AllawayPlant Research Institute, Burnley Gardens, Swan Street, Richmond Vic, 3121, Australia
Abstract - Colonies of honey bees (Apis mellifera) with different queen genotypes, but identical worker genotype, were established. The 2 groups differed significantly in both weight gain and brood area, indicating that queen genotype influences honey production. In a second experiment, 2 groups of genetically similar queens were inseminated with genetically dissimilar semen. The sire groups did not differ significantly in their honey production over a period of 3 months. It is concluded that queen genotype plays a significant part in colony genotypic merit for honey production, and that selection schemes which do not evaluate queen performance are likely to be only partially successful.
Key words: Apis mellifera / honey production / queen genotype / queen fecundity / selection scheme