Molecular characterization of the native honey-bee populations in Oman

This study was conducted to characterize the native honey bee populations in Oman based on the mtDNA COI-COII intergenic region. Fifty samples of honey bees were collected from 8 Governorates in Oman. Analysis of the samples using the COI-COII intergenic region revealed that all samples belong to the Apis mellifera. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the samples produced the following amplicon sizes (612 bp PoQ, 812 bp PoQQ and 1000 bp PoQQQ). The majority of the samples belonged to the PoQ group (52%) and PoQQ group (42%). Only three samples (6%) belonged to the PoQQQ group. This is the first study that characterized phylogenetic relationship of Apis mellifera honey bees from Oman. It indicates the presence of diversity in the population of these honey bees in Oman.