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Evaluating the Effect of Environmental Chemicals on Honey Bee Development from the Individual to Colony Level
Published on: April 1, 2017
Abscisic acid enhances cold tolerance in honeybee larvae
Leonor Ramirez1, Pedro Negri2, Laura Sturla3
1Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, CONICET - Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), CC 1245, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|April 7, 2017
Summary
Abscisic acid (ABA) enhances honeybee larvae survival and development under cold stress. Supplementing ABA-rich diets prevents cold-induced mortality and accelerates adult emergence in honeybees.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Animal Physiology
- Bee Health
Background:
- Honeybee (Apis mellifera) immune function and stress responses are influenced by dietary nutrients.
- Abscisic acid (ABA), found in nectar, pollen, and honey, was previously shown to improve overwinter honeybee colony survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of ABA in honeybee larvae (Apis mellifera) exposed to cold stress.
- To determine if ABA supplementation can mitigate the negative effects of low temperatures on larval development and survival.
Main Methods:
- In vitro rearing of honeybee larvae (L4) at standard (34°C) and cold (25°C) temperatures.
- Analysis of ABA levels in larvae under different temperature conditions.
- Administration of ABA-supplemented diets to cold-stressed larvae.
- Gene expression analysis of metabolic and stress-response genes (Hexamerin 70b, Insulin Receptor Substrate, Vitellogenin, Heat Shock Proteins 70).
- Investigation of AmLANCL2 (honeybee ABA receptor) regulation.
Main Results:
- Cold-stressed larvae (25°C) exhibited lower survival and delayed development compared to those at 34°C.
- Cold-stressed larvae maintained higher ABA levels, indicating its biological significance.
- ABA-supplemented diets completely prevented cold-induced mortality and accelerated adult emergence.
- ABA modulated the expression of key genes involved in metabolism and stress response.
- Cold stress and ABA influenced the regulation of the AmLANCL2 receptor.
Conclusions:
- Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in enhancing honeybee larvae tolerance to low-temperature stress.
- ABA acts through priming effects, modulating metabolic adjustments and stress response pathways.
- Dietary ABA supplementation is a promising strategy to improve honeybee resilience against cold conditions.
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