ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the genetic structure of breeding populations of honey bees, knowledge of which is essential for constructing useful bee breeding programs. It presents different mating designs that can be used with different breeding programs. The chapter also discusses at length closed population breeding programs and present different methods for selecting superior stock and for predicting the response of a breeding population to selection. It describes the role of selective breeding programs in South American apiculture where Africanized bees have been a reality for over 30 years. Useful systems of breeding honey bees employ three distinct mating designs: assortative, disassortative, and random mating. Assortative mating can be achieved in two ways: mating phenotypes that have similar characteristics, for example colonies that are good producers, and mating genotypes that are similar, for example relatives. Disassortative mating schemes are usually of two types for two different purposes: circular breeding schemes and interpopulational crosses.
