Determination of performances some important races and ecotypes of Turkish honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) under migratory beekeeping conditions

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare performances of some important honeybee (A. mellifera L.) races and ecotypes in Turkey. Experimental colonies were collected from 6 different regions such as Central Anatolia Region (Beypazary), North Eastern Anatolia Region (Posof), Marmara Region (Gokceada); Thrace Region (Saray), Aegean Region (Fethiye) and Mediterranean Region (Erdemli). Genotypes were compared with respect to some physiological characteristics including honey yield, wax building activity, development of colony population and brood rearing activity. During 2 years of experiment the Mugla genotype was superior to the other genotypes in terms of development of colony population, brood rearing activity, wax building activity and honey yield. Average annual honey yield of Mugla. Alata, Gokceada, Caucasian, Anatolian and Thrace genotypes were found to be 50.16+/-4.3. 43.48+/-3.46, 41.21+/-5.18, 26.56+/-5.51, 20.57+/-3.6 and 15.94+/-3.4 kg/colony respectively.