USE OF STRAINS OF LACTOBACILLUS KUNKEEI AND BIFIDOBACTERIUM ASTEROIDES AS A PROBIOTIC BIOSTIMULANT FOR BEES

摘要

Disclosed are strains of Lactobacillus kunkeei and Bifidobacterium asteroides and the use thereof to produce a probiotic biostimulant formulation for bees. The strains are deposited in the Chilean Collection of Microbial Genetic Resources (CChRGM) and allow the loads of two important bee pathogens, Nosema ceranae Fries (Microsporidia) and deformed wing virus (DWV), to be reduced, meaning a 63% reduction in mortality in bees in the colony that are infected with both pathogens, thus increasing the bee population in the colony by up to 160%, compared to untreated bees.