Department Name: Department of Bee Resources and Genetic Breeding
Leader: SHI Wei                  E-mail: shiwei@caas.cn
Brief introduction:
     The emphasis of the department of bee resources and genetic breeding is on evaluation, protection and exploitation of honey bee germplasm resources and research of honey bee population genetics, epigenetics and high efficiency breeding technologies. Our future directions include theories and methods of collection, evaluation, protection and monitor of honey bee germplasm resources, genetics of important breeding and biological traits, and molecular breeding techniques. By integration of theories and methods of resource protection, genetic variation evaluation, resource informatics, we aim to collect, preserve, classify, identify and evaluate honey bee resources around the globe, explore the value of Chinese honey bee resources on the origin, evolution and informatics of honey bee; to understand important economical traits at colony, individual, and molecular level, based on modern breeding theories; to establish highly efficient breeding system and breed new varieties.
     The department of bee resources and genetic breeding manages the national center of honey bee genetic resources protection, three breeding farms, three protection farms (one of which is for the Eastern honey bee) with a capacity of supplying 2,000 queens per year; possess a molecular lab, and has recently established a full-equipped research building with an area of 1,500 square meters.
From the sixth five-year plan to the eighth five-year plan period, our department undertook several breeding tasks from Ministry of Agriculture, and successfully improved several high production honey bee breeds with national-wide extension and application and considerable economic and social benefits, including “Guofeng 213”, “Guofeng 414”, and “Huangshan 1”, and received First Prize of Technology Progress award of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). During the ninth five-year plan, the department introduced and preserved a number of improved breeds, including Western honey bee from the United State andAustralia, Carniolan honey bee, Caucasica honey bee. During the tenth five-year plan, the department undertook the sub-project of the National Key Project, “selection of improved honey bees”, and obtained two breeds of improved mite resistance and high honey production, namely “Beijing 1”, “Dongfang 1”, both of which have passed the ministerial-level evaluation.
Objectives:
      Honey bees are important both for the ecosystem as pollinators and agriculture both as pollinators and as provider of various bee products such as honey, royal jelly, etc. Our objective is to understand the status and classification of honey bee resources in China and around the globe, in order
(1) to protect genetic diversity of honey bee resources and,
(2) to explore local adaptation of diverse populations.
     We are also interested in the evolutionary history of the populations, and the understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying important traits. Our other objective is to breed genetic improved strains of honey bee with fine properties such as disease resistance, good performance and adaptation to extreme environmental conditions (low and high temperature, high altitude, etc.). A variety of breeding methods can be used, including the traditional breeding and molecular breeding methods. The development of diverse breeding strategies suitable for honey bees that employ state-of-the-art molecular technology is also of great importance.
Research Focus:
1) Explore the honey bee resources inChina, especially in the previously unexplored areas in westernChina. Our previous works shows thatChinahas a great variety of the eastern honey bee (Apis mellifera), we also found the first endemic population of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) inChina. Further research into honey bee resources, especially in previously unexplored areas, is important in obtaining a full picture of honey bee genetic diversity inChina.
2) Understand the phylogenetic and evolution of honey bee populations inChinaand worldwide. Currently, the origin of honey bees is still debated, we seek to gain insights into the evolution and origin of honey bees from a genomic perspective. In addition, much remains to be done on the classification of the eastern honey bee (Apis cerana). Classification of A. cerana will not only provide insight into its evolution history, but also of great importance in protecting the genetic resources of A. cerana.
3) Understand genetic basis of important traits, including disease resistance, adaptation to extreme environmental conditions, reproductive, etc. Information of the genetics of these traits not only can gain insight in the underlying mechanisms of the traits, but also provide candidate genes that can be used in molecular breeding of the traits.
4) Genetic breeding of honey bee. Using traditional breeding and molecular breeding techniques, to breed genetically improved honey bee strains.
Team members:
LIU Zhiguang <liuzhiguang@caas.cn>
CHEN Xiao <chg906@126.com>
CHEN Chao <chao_chen@outlook.com>
DING Guiling <guilingding@163.com>
WANGHuihua <wangyang_4@hotmail.com>
GUO Haikun <ghk_fafu@126.com>
Awards:
Fengpeng Action﹒Seed Industry Hero Award of the China Agricultural Science and Education Foundation
Science and Technology Achievement Award of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Industry Standards:
Specification for honeybee genetic resources evaluating (NY/T 2364-2013)
The bred queen of Apis cerana inChina(NT/T 1159-2013)
Patents:
1. A type of queen honey bee catcher. 2011.Chinapatent number: ZL 2011 2 0324998.2
2. A type of instrumental insemination device of queen honey bees. 2011.Chinapatent number: ZL 2011 2 0324990.6
3. A type of box used for mating of honey bees. 2012.Chinapatent number: ZL 2012 2 0332735.0
4. The hive and its backplane components. 2013.Chinapatent number: ZL 2013 2 0689704.5
5. A type of box for transportation of queen cells. 2013.Chinapatent number: ZL 2013 2 0759154.X
6. System for development and utilization of honey bee germplasm resources V1.0. 2013.Chinasoftware copyright number: 2013SR027907
7. Software for sequence alignment statistics and evaluation in honey bees based on repetitive sequences [AM-MSLE] V1.0. 2014.Chinasoftware copyright number: 2014SR079228
Selected Publications:
1. Forsgren E, Shi W, Ding G L, Liu Z G, Van Tran T, Tang P T, Truong T A, Dinh T Q, Fries I. (2014). Preliminary observations on possible pathogen spill-over from Apis mellifera to Apis cerana. Apidologie, 46: 177-186
2. Liu Z G, Lv L P, Ding G L, Shi W. (2012). Construction and application of JavaEE-Asp.net – based information database system of honeybee resources inChina. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 14: 69-73
3. Guo J, Shi W, Ding G L, Lv L P, Liu Z G. (2009). A primary report on honeybee space-flight breeding. Journal of Nuclear Agricultural Sciences, 23 : 717-720
4. Wang G Z, Shi W. (2008). A study on morphoclusters of Shanxi A. cerana. Acta Agriculturae Universitaties Jiangxiensis, 30 : 411-417
5. Liu Z G, Shi W. (2008). Morphological analysis of honey bee, Apis cerana, in northeast Gansu of China. Journal of Environmental Entomology, 30: 97-102