Tree Hive Colonies: Increased Quantity Of Beneficial Fungi In Bee Bread From The Trees And Its Antifungal Propeties Against Chalkbrood

摘要

We report the fungus profile of bee bread from honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera) placed in trees in order to explore this novel approach to beekeeping. Bee bread from tree colonies had approximately twice the amount of fungi, Aspergillus/Penicillium, and A. niger, as ground colonies (due to undetermined factors). A total fungus inoculum of all culturable fungi slowed or inhibited growth of chalkbrood fungus Ascosphaera apis in laboratory cultures, thus confirming the beneficial role of these fungi.Aspergillus niger alone was particularly effective at overgrowing A. apis and chemical antagonism. Two randomly selected Penicillium spp. were also growth deterrents to A. apis. Remarkably, bee bread fungi completely grew over A. apis and killed it. With more concentrated fungi from tree colonies, takeover of A. apis was more rapid. This suggests that bee bread fungi from tree colonies are more efficient at handling chalkbrood. Adding more beneficial fungi (i.e., A. niger) to bee colonies should not be expected to increase protection, and, in fact, could be detrimental by causing an imbalance of fungal components that are regulated naturally.