Effects of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis Mori2, honey associated strain, on honeybee colony performance.

SABATÉ D.C; CRUZ, M.S.; BENÍTEZ-AHRENDTS, M.R. ; AUDISIO, M.C.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; 42º Congreso Internacional de Apicultura, APIMONDIA; 2011

Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis Mori2, isolated from a honey sample from Morillos (Salta, Argentina), was assayed as a monoculture on bee colonies performance. It was delivered to the bees on a one litre of 125g/L sugar-cane syrup with a final concentration of 105 spores/mL. The evolution of the treated colony was monitored and any changes were compared to control hives; all other conditions (weather, nourishment and supervision) were identical The bees accepted the new nourishment, which was consumed within 24-48 h and was administered once a month for 8 consecutive months (from May to December 2010). The photo-records and statistic analyses revealed significant differences in the open and the operculated brood areas in the treated group compared with the control. This stimulation was observed after the third administration of the spores of bacilli and maintained throughout. Also, a higher number of bees were measured in the treated group (26% more than the control) with respect to the initial bees? number. Furthermore, honey storage was 64% higher for the treated than the control groups. The in vivo results of this study are promising and indicate that a B. subtilis Mori2 supplement to beehives favours mainly open and operculated brood areas, demonstrating a stronger stimulation of egg-laying and will become a natural product which will assist the beekeeper both in colony management and the creation of late nuclei and/or bee packages.