Prof. Dr. Warwick Estevam Kerr, my dear master, Scientific father and friend.

Prof. Dr. Warwick Estevam Kerr, my dear master, Scientific father and friend.

By Prof. Dr. Lionel Segui Gonçalves (published in 25/09/18)

The sadness I find myself to write this text about death, on the last day 15/9/2018, my dear Master, Scientific Father and Friend, Prof. Dr. Warwick Estevam Kerr, My doctoral supervisor at USP, It is not greater than the joy and great pleasure that I feel in extolling the qualities of this good man, honored, religious, exemplary family man: your life is for me one of the greatest examples of citizenship, love science and love of neighbor. Brazil loses one of the greatest exponents of national science, and Beekeeping and Brazilian Meliponiculture cease to rely on one of his most important supporters.
scientific institutions of great prestige benefited from his dedication and administration in favor of science, as the Brazilian Society of Genetics and the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science, of which he was President; the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), which was the first Scientific Director; and the National Institute of Amazonian Research, which was twice President. Different universities relied on educational activities, research and extension of Prof.. Kerr, as the Federal University of Uberlândia and the State University of Maranhão, which was also rector.

Two years after graduating as an agronomist from ESALQ-Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, Piracicaba, USP, He was awarded his doctorate on genetics of stingless bees and, then, He was invited as a lecturer at Isolated Institute or Faculty of Philosophy Science and Letters of Rio Claro-SP (later UNESP), there having created the Department of Biology. Even as a teacher of biology, a Prof. Kerr was invited by the then Governor Carvalho Pinto to occupy the post of prime scientific director of the newly created FAPESP, having been responsible for the efficient standards and guidelines that make the institution an exemplary entity to support science and research in the State of São Paulo, whose model was later copied by other states in Brazil. In 1964, even as scientific director of FAPESP, and even not being a doctor, Dr. Kerr received the director of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School (FMRP-USP) the challenge of founding the Genetics Department. In 29/11/1964 a Prof. Kerr took over as Professor of Genetics of FMRP.

that department, he created the Genetics Section of Bees, which was his first responsibility, As a doctoral Pr. Kerr, among other sectors subsequently created ( Biochemical genetics, Cytogenetics and Mutagenesis, Genetics of Microorganisms, Quantitative Genetics and Populations, Evolutionary Genetics and Medical Genetics and Clinical) ,that would compose one of the first, but the first integrated interdisciplinary department of the University of São Paulo.

It is important to note that before the arrival of Prof.. Kerr FMRP-USP, the genetic knowledge were taught to medical students in some disciplines chapters of the Department of Morphology. In 6/3/1965 a Prof. Kerr gave the first class of genetic discipline in FMRP and even constituted in the first discipline of genetics offered in a medical school in Brazil, this discipline taught by agronomist and his collaborators.

Thanks to this their entrepreneurial unique ability to lead and unite people dedicated to science, teachers, researchers, students, trainees and technicians from other USP units are now part of your team and working under one roof, then forming the "First Integrated Laboratory Inter-units Genetics USP" in Ribeirao Preto. Teachers FMRP, School of Philosophy (FFCLRP) and the Faculty of Dentistry (PU) they worked well, an integrated manner, in undergraduate and graduate and developed jointly research projects and extension services, a true harmony provided by the enthusiasm of Prof.. Kerr, who liked to repeat "unity is strength". Although I was teaching at the Faculty of Philosophy, including having been Director of that unit of USP, I never occupied room or had laboratory on the premises of Philosophy; always worked in the Department of Genetics, where I did my PhD, I defended my Habilitation, I developed my research and I was fortunate to perform my Professor contest at Faculty of Philosophy.

Highlight between the actual results and extremely positive that integration, the fact ODEP. Genetics of FMRP, on the occasion of their 40 years of activity, in 2011, longer rely on its historical over 700 titrations (326 masters and 367 doctorates), 30% including on issues related to bees; and countless papers,published in the major scientific journals in the country and abroad, being at the time one of the most productive Departments of FMRP and USP. A substantial list of educational works ( 3 theses, 471 Scientific and Technical Publications, 262 summaries, 13 books, 22 Book Chapters, 12 Reviews from other works ) , wide relationship oriented and employees in Brazil and abroad form the most valuable curriculum Prof.. Kerr, worthy collection of include the most important libraries of our country, as an example and model of dedication to teaching and research. And beyond the educational legacy, scientific and administrative, there is still that we remember their struggle in defense of the wronged – attitudes that led him even persecutions and political arrests. All these actions make up a rarely seen legacy in curriculum vitaefrom an individual who was not provided with the best possible intellectual and humanistic qualities in a human being.

As for his scientific work, properly versed on bees, we must highlight the work of a few moments that we consider crucial. during my 55 year career, intensely lived beside the Prof. Kerr as his disciple and follower, working with Africanized bees, collaborated and witnessed his restless, intense and sustained effort to help beekeepers to overcome the problems arising from the introduction of African bees in Brazil and develop beekeeping in the country. Although most of his publications have been on bees stingless, his professional life became internationally marked by the introduction of African bees in Brazil and its consequences. followed, since 1963 until this day, all phases of the Africanization process these bees in Brazil and the Americas, they were soon nicknamed by the media as "killer bees", killer bees.

No "chaotic period", between 1964 is 1980, when there was a higher number of accidents involving deaths of animals and people, I witnessed their anxiety, suffering and deep desire to find a solution to the aggressiveness of these descendants bees queens he had brought from Africa in 1956. There were no easy days, many of which are extremely painful, especially when they got serious news that pointed to his name as introducer of bees and chief. On these occasions, target of overwhelming media, always I admired the serene behavior Master despite the tension reigning; only a highly balanced person and endowed with serious principles and religious beliefs could resist. I remember that its main orientation us, their collaborators in mission, It was always directed to the study and handling methods Bees, so we could control these bees, since their biology was hitherto completely unknown.

His persistence in the direction of controlling the aggressiveness of the bees by management was already the result of their scientific experience, and history proved that he was correct: not know how the biology of these bees, and this would require knowledge much more time on research, it was up to us to do something more immediate, developing management technologies.

Thanks then to management studies, gradually employees, technical-oriented, both genetics and other institutions, gradually discovered different variables that interfere in reducing the aggressive behavior of the bees, and highlight examples here simply as a good use of fumegadores, greater spacing between the hives, no manipulation of bees in rainy days, using light clothing, etc., these and other guidelines were being properly tested, scientifically proven and shared with society.

We worked constantly under the eye and the media pressure, I felt that Master suffered every accident news with bees, but was sure that his religious principles and their love to a superior being, our God, was the mainstay that kept him hopeful of better days. Like this, many other scientific methods to reduce the aggressiveness of the bees were being used, with cobalt irradiation as a pump for more gentle mutants, and the thousands of Italian queens we distribute nationwide to hybridize bee colonies toward a more gentle line that dear master was seeking to share with beekeepers.

During this period there was a significant evolution of the Brazilian beekeeping. Before the arrival of African bees to Brazil, in 1956, national beekeeping oscillated around 4 a 5 tons of honey per year, and beekeeping was practiced with bees ApisEuropean, introduced by European immigrants, especially the Germans who colonized southern Brazil. At that time, beekeeping was practiced as hobby,with a view to pollination of small orchards and honey production. The low productivity of Brazilian beekeeping in the early 50, compared with the upper beekeeping from neighboring countries, as Argentina, They led Prof.. Kerr to do a study of the races of bees, having found that he, in Africa, there were more productive than the European bees introduced in Brazil.

In 1956, Dr. Kerr decided, then, African bees importing Apis mellifera scutellata. These bees attracted his attention because of the high productivity, High adaptability, disease resistance and high rate of swarming. His intention was to make a genetic selection of the most important features and distributing matrices with these qualities to Brazilian beekeepers. African Queens, imported by Prof.. Kerr for studies, They were introduced into beehives ApisEuropean in the Horto Florestal of Camaqua, Rio course SP which were allowed Quarantine.

However, a visitor beekeeper, to find that the bees pollen grains were missing at the entrance of the hives, due to the use of screens excluidoras queens and drones installed at the entrance of hives, decided to remove such screens without prompting the Pr. Kerr, only became aware of the fact when they had been initiated the enxameações. The resulting africanizações enxameações and bees in gave rise to the natural environment poly-hybrid bees before africanized, however, by Prof. Kerr achieve the programmed genetic selection in the laboratory. Accidents were repeated often, mainly due to lack of knowledge of management methods of these bees.

Of 1956 a 1980 He lived up the "chaos of the Brazilian beekeeping" and reducing honey production was inevitable. As they reached the honeybee, occurred abandonment of beekeeping in the face of aggression feared these bees. In the decade of 60, was created in Rio Grande do Sul the Brazilian Confederation of Beekeeping, in which Pr. Kerr attended. initiated, among beekeepers in southern Brazil, discussions on what to do with this new and unknown bee. In 1970, It was then performed the First Brazilian Congress of Apiculture, in Singapore-SC, which all staff Prof.. Kerr took part, It is the main theme of that meeting the "aggressiveness". From this congress, there have been many actions in beekeeping associations of beekeepers and also scientific meetings in various universities in Brazil, with great emphasis on activities in USP's laboratories in Ribeirão Preto, under the leadership of Prof.. Kerr and colleagues.

Between 1970 is 1980 there was a great leap of knowledge about the biology and management of Africanized bees, with the contribution of postgraduate courses started in 1971. In the decade of 1980, the aggressiveness of the bees was ceasing to be constant agenda in the media and was not the main theme of the congress. In this period, the association was very encouraged in several states and national beekeeping gradually increased. However, I remember that the promising scenario was not enough to ease the nightmare that haunted Dr. Kerr. On more than one occasion, My dear Master commented: Will I ever be able to get rid of this terrible trauma which is the aggressiveness of these bees?

Of 1990 a 2000 our honey production reached the amount of 40 tons of honey / year. The Brazilian beekeeping flourished. In the years 2000, northeast Brazil not only has been integrated in honey production statistics, but as the region accounts for approximately 1/3 the national beekeeping. Beekeeping in our country seemed to be a new expansion phase. However, in 2009, the International Federation of Beekeepers APIMONDIA,- made a serious warning for the world congress of apiculture France on the danger posed by pesticides to the French beekeeping and on the risk of the same phenomenon occur in other countries.

Unfortunately, from 2012, apiculture and Brazilian beekeeping also would suffer under the action of the indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture. With that, new battle was imposed: the fight against pesticides. The theme of "aggressiveness of the bees" came to be replaced by the theme "pesticides and death of bees". Virtually all states live, since then, drama successive losses of bee death and disappearance of bees CCD or (Collony Colapse Disorder) caused mainly by the use of systemic pesticides. The use of neonicotinoid insecticides and broad spectrum, como o fipronil, today the main problem faced by Brazilian beekeeping and beekeeping. Na Europa, in the United States and other countries, It is often attributed mortality of bees and the CCD above mite Varroa destructor.

In Brazil, However, the mortality of bees do not find explanation in this pathology. The honeybee mites are resistant to Varroa destructordue to the hygienic behavior recessive genes, and this natural resistance prevents the use of acaricide against this plague, saving our bees and our honey chemical waste. In our country, thanks to genetic improvement of our bees, no significant losses statistics of hives due to varroatose. For several years and on several occasions I was fortunate to hear comments on the following content: "How fantastic, what a wonderful sight to this teacher who introduced African bees in Brazil, We have a productive and highly resistant bee diseases and pests ".

It is with this legacy, therefore, that the national beekeeping develops with a productivity that already exceeds the 50 tons of honey per year; and beyond the amount, Our honey is also internationally recognized for its excellent quality, including significant production of organic honey. He claimed, Finally, that aggression is no longer the main problem of our beekeeping.

Dear Master, about that your question, if one day you could get rid of the trauma of the aggressiveness of Africanized bees, it has already been answered. Therefore, my dear Dr. Kerr, as one of his followers, kerzista proudly, and expert genetic honeybee, with great humility and safety, I reaffirm:YOU DID IT!

Rest in peace, under divine protection who you always trusted and believed, our God. Here is my most pure and sincere tribute to this great Brazilian scientist.

(Prof. Dr. Lionel Segui Gonçalves-mail:lsgoncal@ffclrp.usp.br) (LSG, 25/09/2018).