Apis mellifera Raw sequence reads

The DNA sequencing data presented here were produced for a large genome-wide association (GWAS) study performed on honey bees to understand the genetic basis of multiple phenotypes linked to varroa resistance in Apis mellifera. The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is one of the main causes of colony losses worldwide, with a huge economic impact on beekeeping. In some populations, resistance traits were found to be sufficiently heritable to offer sustainable opportunities to fight varroa infestations through selective breeding of naturally resistant honey bees. To understand the genetic basis of multiple phenotypes linked to varroa resistance in Apis mellifera and to search for genetic markers of resistance, a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed on honey bees. Genomic data was generated by sequencing DNA pools of 500 workers, each from a single colony. More than 1,500 colonies belonging to three different genetic backgrounds and combined in a meta-analysis, were included in the study. Results have shown that varroa resistance is largely polygenic in nature, involving many genes with small effects and a total of 60 genetic markers were identified as having a significant impact on varroa resistance in at least one of the honey bee populations tested.