Abstract
The genus Melipona is subdivided into four subgenera based on morphological characteristics, and two groups based on cytogenetic patterns. The cytogenetic information on this genus is still scarce, therefore, the goal of this study was to characterize Melipona paraensis, Melipona puncticollis, and Melipona seminigra pernigra using the following techniques: C-banding, DAPI/CMA3 fluorochromes, and FISH with an 18S rDNA probe. Melipona paraensis (2n=18) and M. seminigra pernigra (2n=22) were classified as high heterochromatin content species (Group II). Their euchromatin is restricted to the ends of the chromosomes and is CMA3 +; the 18S rDNA probe marked chromosome pair number 4. Melipona puncticollis (2n=18) is a low heterochromatin content species (Group I) with chromosome pair number 1 marked with CMA3 and 18S rDNA. Low heterochromatin content is a putative ancestral karyotype in this genus and high content is not a monophyletic trait (Melikerria presents species with both patterns). Differences concerning the karyotypic characteristics can be observed among Melipona species, revealing cytogenetic rearrangements that occurred during the evolution of this genus. Studies in other species will allow us to better understand the processes that shaped the chromatin evolution in Melipona.
Highlights
Species belonging to the Meliponini tribe are known as stingless bees
Sequential staining with DAPI/chromomycin A3 (CMA3) fluorochromes indicated strong DAPI+ bands corresponding to the heterochromatin region (Figure 2c), while CMA3 marked the interstitial region of chromosome pair number 1 (Figure 2d)
The three species analyzed in this study presented distinct chromosome numbers: M. (Michmelia) paraensis and M. (Eomelipona) puncticollis presented 2n = 18 chromosomes, while M. (Michmelia) seminigra pernigra showed 2n = 22 chromosomes
Summary
Species belonging to the Meliponini tribe are known as stingless bees These highly eusocial bees are of pantropical distribution and are important both economically and ecologically. They produce honey and propolis, pollinate a variety of cultivated and native crops, and play an important role as providers of ecosystem services (Kerr et al, 1996; Heard, 1999; Cortopassi-Laurino et al, 2006; Michener, 2007). In the Neotropics, Meliponini is composed of 33 genera with approximately 417 valid species (Camargo and Pedro, 2013) Among these genera, Melipona Illiger 1806 is the most species-rich genus in this tribe (Silveira et al, 2002), represented by 73 described species of which 43 occur in Brazil, and it is subdivided into four subgenera based on morphological characteristics: Eomelipona, Melipona stricto sensu, Michmelia, and Melikerria (Camargo and Pedro, 2013). It is important to highlight that a revision is needed, since Eomelipona is the only subgenus that was not recovered as a monophyletic clade in a molecular phylogenetic analysis (Ramírez et al, 2010; Rasmussen and Cameron, 2010)
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