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Genetic variability in natural populations of Brazilian social bees: II. electrophoretic data for PGM and MDH give evidence for multiple fertilizantions in stingless bees

T.M.M.A Falcão^I; E.P.B. Contel^II

^IDepartamento de Biologia, Área de Genética, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, 50000 Recife, PE, Brasil.
^IIDepartamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, 14049 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. Send correspondence to E.P.B.C

ABSTRACT

Of nine species studied for PGM, two showed genetic variation: Plebeia droryana and Scaptotrigona bipunctata. The polymorphism detected in P. droryana is controlled genetically by three alleles, whereas the polymorphism of S. bipunctata is controlled by only two alleles at one locus. Experimental evidence indicates that in these organisms the structure of PGM is monomeric. Of ten species studied for MDH, three were polymorphic: Melipona marginata marginata, Partamona (Partamona) helleri and P. droryana. Two alleles at one locus genetically contro1 the MDH polymorphism in M. m. marginata and P. (P.) helleri, whereas the MDH variability observed in P. droryana is regulated by three alleles at one locus. Analysis of genotypic proportions for MDH in the progenies of segregant crosses of P. droryana revealed statistical significance. Two hypotheses are raised to explain this discrepancy the coexistence of more than one egg-laying queen in a single nest and/or the occurrence of multiple fertilizations of the egg-laying queen.

Keywords: Brazilian social bees; Electrophoretic data; Stingless bees.

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