Genetic basis of the honey bee Apis mellifera resistance to Varroa destructor

• Applicant: Dr. Jarkko Routtu, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Evolution, Anthropology ; Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology (Zoology)
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 290288153

The aim of the project is to find genetic basis of the honey bee resistance to Varroa destructor. I will do this by using QTL crosses in combination with high density SNP linkage map and haploid drones. This approach will be complemented with RNA-seq and proteomics datasets. The results will be important in understanding how novel host-parasite interactions co-evolve and will provide practical knowledge for apiculture on Varroa resistant honey bees.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Australia, France, India
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Boris Baer; Professor Dr. Andreas Brockmann; Professor Dr. Raghavendra Gadagar; Professor Dr. Yves Le Conte; Privatdozent Dr. Peter Rosenkranz