MOLECULAR EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHY OF CRUDE VENOM AS AN AUXILIARY TOOL TO IDENTIFY HYBRID HONEYBEE POPULATIONS

M. S. PALMA(1,2,3), M. R. BROCHETTO-BRAGA(1,2,3), J. CHAUD-NETTO(1,2,3), O. MALASPINA(1,2,3), M. R. OLIVEIRA(1,2)

(1)Department of Biology, Institute of  Biosciences of Rio Claro, State of  São Paulo, Brazil, (2)Center for the Study of Social Insects - CEIS - UNESP, State of São Paulo, Brazil, (3)Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals - CEVAP - UNESP, State of  São Paulo, Brazil.

ABSTRACT. A comparison among the profiles of molecular exclusion chromatography in Sephadex G 100 column of venoms from Apis mellifera adansonii and Africanized honeybees revealed unique peaks which might be used to identify these populations. The venoms from hybrid populations resulting from the reciprocal mating of Apis mellifera adansonii and Africanized honeybees presented unique peaks, probably resulting from a synergistic effect between the parental genomes. The occurrence of characteristic peaks in venoms of hybrid populations might be used to identify these populations as well as to distinguish them from their parents.

KEY WORDS: Apis mellifera; venom; hybrid populations; molecular exclusion chromatography; honeybees.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

M.S. PALMA, Departamento de Biologia do Instituto de Biociências, Caixa Postal 199 - CEP 13.506-900 - Rio Claro - São Paulo - Brasil. Email mrbbraga@rc.unesp.br