Spolne i dobne razlike u kemijskom sastavu kutikule medonosne pčele (Apis mellifera L.)

master's thesis

• Title (english): Sex and age differences in the chemical composition of the cuticle of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.)
• Author: Helena Pribanić
• Mentor: Lidija Svečnjak (mentor)
• Committee member: Lidija Svečnjak (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Saša Prđun (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marko Vinceković (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Agriculture; (Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game Management and Special Zoology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-09-30, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOTECHNICAL SCIENCES; Agronomy

Abstract

Egzoskelet medonosne pčele (Apis mellifera L.) čini višeslojna kutikula koja ima važnu ulogu u obrambenim mehanizmima pčela, kao i kemijskoj komunikaciji u pčelinjoj zajednici. Cilj je ovog rada bio utvrditi biokemijske značajke i razlike u kemijskom sastavu kutikule medonosne pčele u ovisnosti o spolu i dobi. Istraživanje je provedeno na tri pokusne pčelinje zajednice iz koje su uzorkovane radilice i trutovi. Uzroci za analizu pripremljeni su odstranjivanjem, sušenjem i homogenizacijom kutikule dviju dobnih skupina radilica (radilice jedan dan starosti i radilice u dobi od 30 dana / skupljačice; n = 151) te trutova (n = 40). Uzorci kutikule analizirani su metodom infracrvene (FTIR-ATR) spektroskopije. Rezultati su pokazali kako kutikula radilica sadrži više ugljikovodika i melanina, a manje proteinsko-hitinske frakcije u odnosu na kutikulu trutova. Također, analize različitih dobnih skupina radilica pokazali kako kutikula mladih radilica sadrži znatno manji udio svih glavnih sastavnica (hitina, proteina, ugljikovodika, melanina) u odnosu na kutikulu skupljačica koja je bogatija navedenim makromolekulama.

Abstract (english)

Exoskeleton of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) consists of a multi-layered cuticle that plays an important role in bee defense mechanisms, as well as chemical communication in the honey bee colony. The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical features and differences in the chemical composition of the honey bee cuticle depending on sex and age. The study was conducted on three experimental bee colonies from which workers and drones were sampled. The samples for analysis were prepared by removing, drying and homogenizing the cuticle of two age groups of workers (one day old workers, and 30 days old workers / foragers; n = 151) and drones (n = 40). Cuticle samples were analyzed by infrared (FTIR- ATR) spectroscopy. The results have revealed that worker cuticle contain more hydrocarbons and melanin, and less protein-chitin fraction compared to drone cuticle. Also, analyzes of different age groups of workers showed that the cuticle of young workers contains significantly lower concentrations of all major components (chitin, proteins, hydrocarbons, melanin) compared to the cuticle of foragers, which is richer in the mentioned macromolecules.

• Keywords: medonosna pčela; kutikula; kemijski sastav; FTIR-ATR spektroskopija; spolne i dobne razlike
• Keywords (english): honey bee; cuticle; chemical composition; FTIR-ATR spectroscopy; gender and age differences
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:204:126205
• Study programme: Title: Organic Agriculture with Agrotourism; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar / magistra inženjer/inženjerka ekološke poljoprivrede i agroturizma (magistar / magistra inženjer/inženjerka ekološke poljoprivrede i agroturizma)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Embargoed access; Embargo expiration date: 2023-11-10
• Created on: 2022-11-10 09:39:59