O.M.P. Duarte, C.C.C. Martins, A.M. Waldschmidt, M.A. Costa
Published: July 21, 2009
Genet. Mol. Res. 8 (3) : 831-839
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-3gmr598
Cite this Article:
O.M.P. Duarte, C.C.C. Martins, A.M. Waldschmidt, M.A. Costa (2009). Occurrence of multiple nucleolus organizer regions and intraspecific karyotype variation in Scaptotrigona xanthotricha Moure (Hymenoptera, Meliponini). Genet. Mol. Res. 8(3): 831-839. https://doi.org/10.4238/vol8-3gmr598
About the Authors
O.M.P. Duarte, C.C.C. Martins, A.M. Waldschmidt, M.A. Costa
Corresponding Author
M.A. Costa
Email: costama@uesc.br
ABSTRACT
Scaptotrigona xanthotricha has a wide geographic distribution in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. One population from southeast and two from northeast Brazil were analyzed and were found to have chromosome polymorphisms. Although the chromosome number 2n = 34 is conserved in this species, karyotypic analysis revealed clear differences between the three populations. Congruent and ubiquitous multiple nucleolus organizer regions, heterochromatin and CMA3-positive blocks were found. The variations suggest that this species is in a process of genetic differentiation. This differentiation process might have been enhanced by restricted nesting preferences, combined with recent extensive fragmentation of the Atlantic rainforest, which limits gene flow between populations.
Key words: chromosome, Ag-NOR, Stingless bee, Fluorochrome staining, Stingless bee.