Evaluaciôn de la prolificidad, comportamiento higiénico y de defensa de la abeja {Apis mellifera) en el nùcleo genético de la Regional Norte de Repûblica Dominicana

Bee material in the Dominican Republic had not been evaluated genetically and the genetic parameters of prolificacy, hygiene and defense behavior were not known, parameters which are necessary for bee genetic improvement. Because of this lack of information, a study was begun in 2005 to select the best bee material from the producers, based on the prolificacy, hygienic behavior and defensive traits; the material was evaluated in the genetic center in the North Region of the Dominican Republic, which will serve as base for genetic improvement of honey bees (Apis mellifera). For this evaluation, 20 beehives selected from the best hives of the producers of the North Region of the country were collected randomly and were evaluated for six months (April - September 2005). The registered variables were hygienic and defensive behavior, prolificacy, diseases of brood and adult, amount of true and false royalty cells, honey production. Five evaluations were made; eight beehives were disqualified for having the chalkbrood disease. A genetic selection index was made for the prolific, hygienic and defensive behavior traits. The statistical differences were assured at Ρ < 0.05). The beehives that showed the greater value in hygienic behavior were 9, 6 and 16. The three hives that showed a greater value of tameness were 8, 16 and 9. However, those that obtained the greater index of prolificacy were 9, 16 and 7. Therefore, the three beehives with the highest indices in the evaluated variables and apt to be used in a genetic line, were 9, 16 and 6. However, it is necessary to continue evaluating and selecting the progenies of these queens to obtain a bee line with high performance, genetically balanced in prolificacy, tameness and good hygienic behavior.