Evaluation of a Simple Antibiotic-Free Cryopreservation Protocol for Drone Semen
The increasing reliance of modern agriculture on honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) pollination has driven efforts to preserve and enhance bee populations. The cryopreservation of drone semen presents a promising solution for preserving genetic diversity and supporting breeding programs w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/50 |
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| author | Sophie Egyptien Jérôme Ponthier Fabien Ectors Brice Thibaut Stéfan Deleuze |
| author_facet | Sophie Egyptien Jérôme Ponthier Fabien Ectors Brice Thibaut Stéfan Deleuze |
| author_sort | Sophie Egyptien |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing reliance of modern agriculture on honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) pollination has driven efforts to preserve and enhance bee populations. The cryopreservation of drone semen presents a promising solution for preserving genetic diversity and supporting breeding programs without live animal transport risks. This study aimed to evaluate a one-step dilution antibiotic-free drone semen slow-freezing protocol under field conditions with in vitro and in vivo parameters. Semen viability was tested by two different mixes of dyes, and both techniques gave similar results, showing a post-thaw viability drop of 37%. Virgin queens were inseminated either with fresh or frozen–thawed semen. Survival rates until egg-laying onset and female brood production were similar for both groups; however, colonies with queens inseminated with fresh semen were more likely to go into wintering. Results suggest that frozen–thawed semen can support viable queen insemination, with potential for female brood production even without antibiotics in the diluent. This study highlights the need for further refinement of cryopreservation protocols, particularly regarding semen quality and queen longevity, to improve the feasibility of cryobanking for <i>Apis mellifera</i> conservation and breeding. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ad3d4e9c5f94492d96e6ea3ba161deeb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-ad3d4e9c5f94492d96e6ea3ba161deeb2025-01-24T13:35:43ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-01-011615010.3390/insects16010050Evaluation of a Simple Antibiotic-Free Cryopreservation Protocol for Drone SemenSophie Egyptien0Jérôme Ponthier1Fabien Ectors2Brice Thibaut3Stéfan Deleuze4Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health Research Unit (FARAH), Comparative Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumFundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health Research Unit (FARAH), Comparative Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumFundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health Research Unit (FARAH), Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumIndependent Researcher, 4000 Liège, BelgiumFundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health Research Unit (FARAH), Comparative Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumThe increasing reliance of modern agriculture on honey bee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) pollination has driven efforts to preserve and enhance bee populations. The cryopreservation of drone semen presents a promising solution for preserving genetic diversity and supporting breeding programs without live animal transport risks. This study aimed to evaluate a one-step dilution antibiotic-free drone semen slow-freezing protocol under field conditions with in vitro and in vivo parameters. Semen viability was tested by two different mixes of dyes, and both techniques gave similar results, showing a post-thaw viability drop of 37%. Virgin queens were inseminated either with fresh or frozen–thawed semen. Survival rates until egg-laying onset and female brood production were similar for both groups; however, colonies with queens inseminated with fresh semen were more likely to go into wintering. Results suggest that frozen–thawed semen can support viable queen insemination, with potential for female brood production even without antibiotics in the diluent. This study highlights the need for further refinement of cryopreservation protocols, particularly regarding semen quality and queen longevity, to improve the feasibility of cryobanking for <i>Apis mellifera</i> conservation and breeding.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/50honey beedrone semencryopreservationantibioticviability<i>Apis mellifera</i> |
| spellingShingle | Sophie Egyptien Jérôme Ponthier Fabien Ectors Brice Thibaut Stéfan Deleuze Evaluation of a Simple Antibiotic-Free Cryopreservation Protocol for Drone Semen Insects honey bee drone semen cryopreservation antibiotic viability <i>Apis mellifera</i> |
| title | Evaluation of a Simple Antibiotic-Free Cryopreservation Protocol for Drone Semen |
| title_full | Evaluation of a Simple Antibiotic-Free Cryopreservation Protocol for Drone Semen |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of a Simple Antibiotic-Free Cryopreservation Protocol for Drone Semen |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of a Simple Antibiotic-Free Cryopreservation Protocol for Drone Semen |
| title_short | Evaluation of a Simple Antibiotic-Free Cryopreservation Protocol for Drone Semen |
| title_sort | evaluation of a simple antibiotic free cryopreservation protocol for drone semen |
| topic | honey bee drone semen cryopreservation antibiotic viability <i>Apis mellifera</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/50 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sophieegyptien evaluationofasimpleantibioticfreecryopreservationprotocolfordronesemen AT jeromeponthier evaluationofasimpleantibioticfreecryopreservationprotocolfordronesemen AT fabienectors evaluationofasimpleantibioticfreecryopreservationprotocolfordronesemen AT bricethibaut evaluationofasimpleantibioticfreecryopreservationprotocolfordronesemen AT stefandeleuze evaluationofasimpleantibioticfreecryopreservationprotocolfordronesemen |