Ethem Akyol

Larval and nurse worker control of developmental plasticity and the evolution of honey bee queen–worker dimorphism

Social evolution in honey bees has produced strong queen–worker dimorphism for plastic traits that depend on larval nutrition. The honey bee developmental programme includes both larval components that determine plastic growth responses to larval nutrition and nurse components that regulate larval nutrition. We studied how these two components contribute to variation in worker and queen body size and ovary size for two pairs of honey bee lineages that show similar differences in worker body–ovary size allometry but have diverged over different evolutionary timescales. Our results indicate that the lineages have diverged for both nurse and larval developmental components, that rapid changes in worker body–ovary size allometry may disrupt queen development and that queen–worker dimorphism arises mainly from discrete nurse‐provided nutritional environments, not from a developmental switch that converts variable nutritional environments into discrete phenotypes. Both larval and nurse components have likely contributed to the evolution of queen–worker dimorphism.

Effects of queen ages on Varroa (Varroa destructor) infestation level in honey bee (Apis mellifera caucasica) colonies and colony performance

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effects of queen age on varroa population levels in hives and performance of honey bee (A. mellifera caucasica) colonies. Levels of varroa infestation and performances of the colonies which had 0, 1- and 2-year-old queens were compared in mild climate conditions. Varroa numbers on adults and drone brood, number of frames covered with bees and brood areas were determined every month between 10 May and 10 October 2004. Overall average (± S.E.) % infestation levels of varroa were found to be 5.96 ± 1.42, 11.58 ± 1.46 and 15.87 ± 1.39% on adult bees and 21.55 ± 1.43, 31.96 ± 1.44 and 37.55 ± 1.45% in drone brood cells for 0, 1- and 2-year-old queen colonies, respectively. The colonies which had 0, 1- and 2-year-old queens produced 2673.58 ± 39.69, 2711.75 ± 39.68, and 1815.08 ± 39.70 cm2 overall average (± S.E.) sealed brood and 10.35 ± 0.24, 10.43 ± 0.26 and 7.51 ± 0.21 numbers of frame adult bees, respectively. Honey harvested from 0, 1- and 2-year-old queen colonies averaged 21.60 ± 5.25, 22.20 ± 6.55, and 14.70 ± 2.50 kg/colony, respectively. The colonies headed by young queens had a lower level of varroa infestation, a greater brood area, longer worker bee population and greater honey yield in comparison to colonies headed by old queens.

An observation study on the effects of queen age on some characteristics of honey bee colonies

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effects of the queen’s age on performance of the honeybee (A. mellifera anatoliaca) colonies at nomad beekeeping conditions. Performances of the colonies, which had 0, 1, 2 and 3 year-old queens, were compared. The number of combs, brood areas, wintering ability survival rate and honey yield were determined as performance criteria. The average number of combs with bees throughout the experiment in Group I, Group II, Group III and Group IV was 10.92±0.78, 14.68±0.55, 10.10±0.60, 7.88±0.45 number combs/colony; the average of brood areas was 3078±372.5 cm2, 3668±460.3 cm2, 2215±294.0 cm2, 1665.38±241.8 cm2; the average of wintering ability was 84.3±2.9%, 88.0±3.7%, 46.6±19.0%, 26.8±16.5%; the survival rate was 100%, 100%, 60%, 40%; and the average of honey yields was 31.4±1.89 kg, 41.5±1.05 kg, 20.4±2.62 kg and 12.0±1.41 kg per colony, respectively. A significant and negative correlation between queen age and brood production (r=-80.2), colony strength (r=-62.5), wintering ability (r=-66) and honey yield (r=-75.6) were calculated (P<0.01). The colonies headed by young queens had more brood areas, longer worker colony population, better wintering ability and greater honey yield in comparison to colonies headed by old queens.

Controlling Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) in honeybee Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies by using Thymovar ® and BeeVital ®

Abstract This study was carried out to determine the effects of Thymovar® and BeeVital® on reducing Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) damage in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in spring season. Average percentage of Varroa infestation level was determined as 24.27 on adult workers before the treatments. The drugs were applied two times on 25 September and 16 October 2006. Average percentage of Varroa infestation levels were determined as 5.18%, 10.78% and 35.45% after the first application, 1.90%, 7.05% and 61.15% after the second application in Thymovar®, BeeVital® and control groups, respectively. Average efficacies of Thymovar® and BeeVital® were found to be 96.91% and 88.66%, respectively. Difference between drug efficacies on Varroa mite was found significant (P<0.01). There was no queen, brood and adult honeybee mortality in all group colonies during the research.

Live Weight of Queen Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera L.) Predicts Reproductive Characteristics

ABSTRACT: The study was conducted to determine the effects of queen body weight at emergence on the mating ratio, acceptance of the mated queens by the queenless colonies, onset of oviposition, diameter of spermathecae, the number of spermatozoa in the spermathecae, and the egg-laying rate of the queens. The queens were categorized in three groups; Heavy (207.63 ± 0.95 mg), Medium (193.47 ± 0.96 mg) and Light (175.00 ± 0. 62 mg) according to weight at the emergence. Acceptance rates in heavy, medium and light queen groups were 93.33%, 86.66% and 66.66%; average mating ratios were 93.3%, 90.0% and 83.3%; and the onset of oviposition was 8.5, 8.8 and 9.8 days after emergence, respectively. The diameters of spermathecae and the numbers of spermatozoa in the spermathecae were 1.25, 1.06, 0.86 mm; and 5.2, 4.8 and 4.2 million respectively. The amounts of brood area, 30 days after the onset of oviposition were 6605.2 ± 63.6, 5571.3 ± 90.3 and 4520.2 ± 58.3 cm2 in the colonies headed by the heavy, medium and light queens. Statistically important correlations were found between queen weight and the diameter of the spermatheca (r  =  0.98), the number of spermatozoa in the spermatheca (r  =  0.97) and egg-laying rate of the queens (r  =  0.90).

Effects of exogenous salicylic acid on antioxidant activity and proline accumulation in apple (Malus domestica L.)

This study was conducted to determine the effects of exogenous application of different levels of salicylic acid (SA; 0 mM, 3.62 mM, and 7.24 mM) on antioxidant activity and proline accumulation in apple (Malus domestica Borkh cv. Red Chief Delicious) trees during late spring frost. The study was performed in Ulukisla, Nigde, Turkey from December 2012 to June 2013. We measured the levels of photosynthetic pigments, total proteins and proline in leaves, as well as superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzymatic activities. We also performed morphological observations of the trees. The study was planned according to random experimental design. We determined that SA application increased the fruit number, shoot number, and carotenoid contents in the leaves, but this increase was not statistically significant. However, the fruit weights, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities, as well as chlorophyll, protein, and proline levels increased significantly in response to SA treatment compared to the control. In addition, the treated fruits were darker than the control. These results suggest that treating apple trees with exogenous SA may increase antioxidant enzyme activities as well as protein and proline levels and may alleviate the effects of late spring frost.

Effects of Foliar Treatments of Salicylic Acid on Apple (Malus domestica L.) Against Freezing

Article history: Received 03 November 2014 Accepted 19 December 2014 Available online, ISSN: 2148-127X In our study we aim to increase frost resistance and improve the yield and quality of apple is important in Turkey and world economy. Phenological and morphological observations, physiological and biochemical analyzes were carried out in apple (Malus domestica L.) plants. It was studied to determine the effects of foliar Salicylic acid (0, 500 ppm/plant and 1000 ppm/plant) on adaptation of this plant when exposed to freezing stress, the quality and yield. Leaf photosynthetic pigment contents, total protein amount, proline amount, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzymatic activities were measured. The study planned by random experimental design and statistical analysis of data with SPSS program (LSD test) were made. It was determined that fruit and shoot numbers were increased in samples exposed to 500 ppm salicylic acid and while fruit weights were increased in samples exposed to 500 ppm and 1000 ppm salicylic acid compared to the control. Also, colour of plants were darkened. Chla, chlb, total chl, proline, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase amounts were increased significantly compared to the control group. Increases occured in the carotenoid and the protein amounts are not significant statistically. In the light of obtained data, foliar application of salicylic acid were found to reduce the effects of freezing stress and to increase the yield and quality of apple plants.

An Investigation of Consumers' Consciousness Level About Food Safety in Honey Consumption: The Case of Niğde Province

Recently, food safety which has become one of the decisive factor in demand for all food products, is becoming a major concern due to increasing sensitivity of consumers to food production and consumption. As honey is produced and marketed on more uncontrolled conditions, which is relatively different from other agricultural products, the food safety issue is becoming more intense. In this study, it is examined what kind of applications are applied in food safety in bee products in Turkey. In the second part of the study, it is aimed to determine the importance of food safety in honey consumption of urban consumers in Nigde province based on the primary data and to put consumers consciousness in this subject. For this purpose, it was conducted a survey by interviewing face to face with 286 consumers. In the study, besides basic statistical methods, univariate analysis of variance and factor analysis method were also used to determine the effective factors in purchasing according to income groups. As a result of the research, it was determined that there is a great lack of confidence in the quality of honey in purchasing from the market due to both the concern of sugar added fraudulent honey and residual problem by consumers. For this reason, consumers prefer to buy honey from directly producers rather than market. In addition, consumers are more likely to believe that honey is less safety than in previous years. Health consciousness is an important factor in consumers purchasing honey and health and quality consciousness develops positively especially as the income level of consumers’ increases.

Comparison of colony performances of Anatolian, Caucasian and Carniolan honeybee ( Apis mellifera L.) genotypes in temperate climate conditions

This study was carried out to determine the performances of Mugla and Nigde ecotypes (A. m. anatoliaca), Caucasian (A. m. caucasica) and Carniolan (A. m. carnica) honeybee genotypes in the region of central Anatolia conditions. A total of 40 colonies (each genotype group consisted of 10 colonies) were used in the study. All queens were reared at the same time and in the same apiary and were instrumentally inseminated. The average numbers of combs covered with bees were found to be 11.24±0.59, 9.51±0.42, 8.11±0.31 and 12.38±0.72 per colony respectively; the average brood areas were found to be 2825.0±240.3, 2160.6±176.8, 1701.9±129.7 and 2883.0±104.4 cm2 per colony respectively; and the average honey yields were found to be 28.60±0.88, 15.40±0.69, 23.40±0.54 and 31.60±1.12 kg per colony in Mugla ecotype, Nigde ecotype, Caucasian and Carniolan genotypes respectively. The mean differences among the genotypes for number of combs with bees, brood area and honey yield were significant (P<0.01). These results showed that the Carniolan genotype had the best performance and Nigde ecotype had the lowest performance in temperate climate conditions. Therefore, productivity of the Nigde ecotype can be increased by a crossbreeding programme with Carniolan and Mugla genotypes.