Evaluation of biological traits and selection of the best colonies in Tehran, Isfahan,Ghazvin and Markazi provinces.

Using of honeybee queens with more production and suitable behaviour is one of the important pillars of Apiculture success. In actual using of bred queens srupply the best exploitation of pollen and nectar regions. Scientist of honeybee genetic believed the best breeding strategy for regions that located in honeybee natural distribution area in the world, is breeding of native honeybee reces. In actual in these regions which had native race from millions years ago, trying of researchers for its improvement production and behoviour traits and also decrease the negative characteristics is the best strategy. So in Iran with meda race (Iranian native honeybee race) from millions years ago honeybee breeding project was suggested to improve the Iranian honeybee colonies production and behaviour traits. Based on the results of morphological and biochemical study of honeybee population in Iran the first phase breeding project was conducted in Tehran, Isfahan, Markazi and Ghazvin provinces, in the central of Iran, in the firs phase of breeding project, 5000 honeybee colonies of 27 cities in four provinces were evaluated during the 1998. Honey production swarning behaviour, agressiveness and calmness behaviour were assessed in these colonies and after analyzing of obtained data 874 best colonies were selected based on independent colling level method. After evaluating in spring and summer the selected colonies were moved to Rodan and produced young queens in the winter of 1999. During the spring and summer of 1999 new established colonies were evaluated in Karaj and Lar. Finally 29 dron producer (Father colonies) and 98 mother colonies were selected for establishing the second generation. Honey production, swarming and defense behaviour were evaluated on the honeybee colonies during the spring and summer of 1999-2002 in the Animal Science Research institute (karaj) and highland regions of Alborz and Zagros mountains. The obtained data were analyzed in the autumn of each years and the best colonies were choosed in the end of years. 20 father colonies and 100 mother colonies were selected in the end of each years for establishing next generation. During these years the young larvae for grafting and queen rearing were selected of mother selected colonies in the end of each years. 15 young larvae were grafted of each mother colonies for queen rearing and finally 700 new colonies (7 young queens from each mother colonies) were established for next generation. The produced young queens were mated in the isolated regions with drones of father colonies. Because of imperfect data of colonies evalution the best Colonies were not selected in the end of 2001 and best colonies were selected in the end of 2002 year. Because of inadequate drones in the mating isolated areas 40 father colonies were selected in the end of 2003 and next years after that. To considering the obtained results of selecting the best colonies after four generation, we have desirable progress in swarming and defense behavior had honey production . Because of desirable progress of breeding project, selecting the best colonies, genetic parameters evaluation in the next years should continue and comparison of bred and control queens in different provinces should conducted to reveal the genetic progress of honeybee colonies during the last years.