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English :
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Studies on artificial insemination of honeybee queens of different races in Egypt
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Arabic :
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دراسات علي التلقيح الآلي لملكات نحل العسل من السلالات المختلفه في مصر
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| Abstract |
This work was conducted to study the effect of storage of semen of honeybee drones for different periods either undiluted or diluted with three different diluents on the viability of spermatozoa, during 1994, 1995 seasons from the following view points : 1) Drone production and feeding bees. 2) Semen collection and storage. 3) Instrumental insemination of virgin queens with semen stored for 18 weeks.
1- Drone production :
Thirty colonies were prepared for drone production and divided into two groups; the first contained twenty colonies fed every two days with sugar syrup (2 sugar : 1 water), and 100 g. of pollen supplement every ten days to encourage drone production. The second group contained ten colonies used as nursery for drone brood combs, each was provided with sugar syrup daily, and 100g. Brewer's yeast weekly.
Another nine colonies were selected and divided into three groups, of three colonies each. contained 8, 12 and 16 combs covered with bees. Three types of diets were formulated as follows a) Sugar syrup (3 : 1), b) a mixture of brewer's yeast + sugar + water (6 : 3 : 1), and c) as in "b" with 50 g. pollen grains. Two methods for collecting drones were applied : a) from inside nurse colonies, b) from hive entrances. The drones were stored for 3-9, 10;16 and 17¬-23 days into storage colonies.
2- Semen collection and storage :
Semen was collected from matured drones which collected and stored as mentioned above. Schley's apparatus (which was modified during the study) was used for semen collection and storage. Effect of storage period on the
spermatozoa viability was studied for either of undiluted and diluted semen with three diluents in two ratios of dilution, (Hyes's, modified Jaycox's and modified saline's solutions in the ratios of 3 : 1 and 1 : 1), the viability was determined in each case of storage by using haemocytometer slide every two weeks. The longest period of storage was also studied for the above mentioned cases.
3- The instrumental insemination of honeybee queens :
Carniolan, first hybrid of Carniolan and first hybrid of Italian virgin queens were inseminated, (with the afore-mentioned apparatus), with either stored (18 weeks of storage) undiluted or diluted semen, each of diluents was used in two ratios of dilution. The inseminated queens were divided into two groups; the first group was dissected after 48 h. of insemination to deter-mine the number of spermatozoa entered into queens sper-rnathecae, the second group of inseminated queens (each was introduced to a nucleus) was observed to study the following bioassay measurements : 1) pre- oviposition period, 2) areas of laid egg, 3) areas of unhatched egg, 4) areas of worker progeny, and 5) areas of drone progeny.
The obtained results are summarized as follows :
1- Drone production :
The effect of feeding colonies on diet (C) (6 parts of brewer-'s yeast + 3 pails of sugar + 1 part of water + 50 g. pollen grains), storage period of 17-23 days in colonies contained 16 combs covered with bees resulted in maturity for both of stored drones collected either from inside colonies or from hive entrance during March-July and March-June, 1995, respectively. Feeding storage colonies of (16 combs) on diet (C) for 17-23 days gave bigger volume of semen from its drones. Colonies of 8 and 12 combs and fed with the same diets gave lesser volumes from the drones.
2- Semen collection and storage :
Storage of undiluted semen for 18 weeks was less affected with storage period followed by that diluted with Hyes's solution (3 : 1) and the semen diluted with the same diluent (1 : 1). The highest reduction percentage of viability was noticed in the semen diluted with modified saline's solution (1 : 1) (82.17%),while the lowest reduction percentage was obtained in undiluted semen (33.33%).
Studying the longest storage period on spermatozoa viability, showed that in case of stored undiluted semen, gave the longest storage period (34 weeks), while in case of semen diluted with Hyes's (3 : 1) was 26 weeks and semen diluted with modified Jaycox's (3 : 1) was 24 weeks. On the other hand, the shortest storage period (20 weeks) was obtained of stored semen diluted with modified saline (1 : 1).
3- Instrumental insemination of honeybee queens :
Comparing the numbers of spermatozoa entered the spermathecae of queens inseminated with stored undiluted semen or stored semen diluted with the three studied diluents, showed insignificant differences between Carniolan, first hybrid of Carniolan and first hybrid of Italian queens (after 18 weeks of storage). Significant differences were found between the number of spermatozoa entered the spermathecae of queens inseminated with stored undiluted semen and others inseminated with other tests.
Insignificant differences were found between Carniolan, first hybrid of Carniolan and first hybrid of Italian queens inseminated with stored undiluted semen or stored semen diluted with the three diluents in the two ratios of dilution, (after18 weeks of storage) for the following criteria, pre-oviposition periods, areas of laid egg, areas of unhatched egg, areas of worker progeny and areas of drone progeny. On the other hand, a highly significant differences were found between queens inseminated with stored undiluted semen and all other queens inseminated with stored semen diluted with the three studied diluents in the two ratios of dilution (3 : 1, 1 : 1) after 18 weeks of storage between : areas of egg laid, areas of unhatched egg and areas of worker progeny, while non¬significant differences were found for the pre-oviposition periods.
From the above mentioned results, it could be concluded that the best diet for feeding colonies (where drones were stored) was diet (C), for producing the highest number of matured drones, consequently the biggest volumes of semen. The more suitable colony strength for storing drones was that of 16 combs covered with bees; while the best period of storage was 17-23 days for both of drones collected from colonies and from hive entrances. Also, the best case of semen storage at 18°C was that of undiluted semen followed by stored semen diluted with Hyes's (3 : 1), and that diluted with Hyes's (1 : 1).
It could be concluded that stored undiluted semen contained viable spermatozoa for the longest period of storage than all other cases of semen stored with any of the used diluents in the two ratios of dilution (3 : 1, 1 : 1).
Also, spermathecae of queens inseminated with stored undiluted semen contained more numbers of spermatozoa and thus laid larger numbers of egg, smallest areas of unhatched egg, largest areas of worker progeny and none of drone progeny.
Generally, it could be recommended using undiluted semen stored for 18 weeks for insemination queens to obtain better progeny of workers, thus better colony production.
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| Publication year |
1997
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| Availability location |
معهد بحوث وقايه النباتات
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| Availability number |
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| Organization Name |
Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI)
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| Country |
Egypt
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| Publisher |
Name:
كليه الزراعه -جامعه المنيا
Place:
المنيا-مصر
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| Agris Categories |
Protection of plants - General aspects
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AGROVOC
TERMS |
Artificial insemination.
Drones.
Feeding.
Honey bees.
Maturity.
Queen bees.
Semen.
Spermatozoa.
Viability.
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| Publication Type |
PhD Thesis
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