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Collection and Identification of Pollen from Honey Bee Colonies
Published on: January 19, 2021
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Viral Diversity in Mixed Tree Fruit Production Systems Determined through Bee-Mediated Pollen Collection
Raj Vansia1,2, Malek Smadi1,3, James Phelan4
1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London Research and Development Centre, Vineland Research Station, 4902 Victoria Ave N, Vineland Station, ON L0R 2E0, Canada.
Viruses
|October 26, 2024
Summary
Honey bees and pollen reveal a diverse range of plant viruses in mixed-crop orchards. This study highlights the importance of monitoring bee pollination activities for understanding virus complexes in fruit tree ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Virology
- Ecology
- Entomology
Background:
- Orchards with multiple fruit tree species like Prunus and Malus can harbor shared or unique viruses.
- Pollen is a significant vector for virus transmission in these mixed-crop environments.
- Commercial honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollination is crucial for fruit production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the pollen-associated virome in mixed-cultivar orchards.
- To understand virus diversity and transmission dynamics in tree fruit pollination ecosystems.
- To compare the virome found in pollen with that in vegetative tissues.
Main Methods:
- Metagenomics was used to detect plant viruses in bee and pollen samples.
- Samples were collected across four time points during peak bloom of apricot, cherry, peach, and apple trees.
- Leaf and flower samples were also analyzed to compare with pollen viromes.
Main Results:
- Twenty-one distinct viruses were identified, including prune dwarf virus (PDV), prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), and cherry virus A (CVA).
- A higher diversity of viruses was consistently found in bee and pollen samples compared to vegetative tissues.
- Significant nucleotide sequence diversity was observed in the coat protein genes of CVA, PDV, and PNRSV.
Conclusions:
- Bee pollination activities provide a valuable method for area-wide monitoring of plant viruses.
- The study reveals extensive virus diversity within tree fruit pollination ecosystems.
- Understanding the pollen virome offers new insights into pathogen complexes in agricultural settings.
