Functional Elucidation of Vitellogenin receptor Activity in Apis mellifera in Response to Abiotic Stress

Abiotic stressors threaten honeybee health, jeopardizing pollination services critical to agriculture and biodiversity. Here, we identified the <i>AmVgR</i> gene, which encodes a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor family, and examined its function in the response of <i>Apis mellifera</i> to adverse abiotic stress. <i>AmVgR</i> exhibited peak expression in adult workers and was significantly upregulated under heat, cold, heavy metal, and pesticide exposure. RNAi-mediated knockdown of <i>AmVgR</i> suppressed antioxidant enzyme activities, elevated the levels of oxidative damage markers, and downregulated antioxidant gene expression. Crucially, <i>AmVgR</i> silencing reduced survival under H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress, indicating its essential role in stress resilience. Our findings highlight <i>AmVgR</i> as a key regulator of antioxidant defense during development and environmental adaptation in <i>Apis mellifera</i>. This study provides mechanistic insights into bee stress physiology and proposes <i>AmVgR</i> as a novel target for enhancing pollinator protection strategies. Further research should elucidate its molecular pathways and translational applications in mitigating abiotic stress impacts.