An ecological approach to honeybee olfactory conditioning: challenges and potential for the monitoring of potato virus Y infection.

ABSTRACT: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a global crop with a vital role in food security and economic significance in many countries. Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of its major viral threats, causing severe yield and quality losses when not controlled properly. PVY spreads primarily through aphids and infected tubers, and current management relies on insecticides and protective oils. Novel detection methods are needed to identify infected plants accurately at an early stage of plant development, thus reducing pesticide use. Trained honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) can detect specific volatiles emitted by plants infected by viruses like PVY. Using associative conditioning and the proboscis extension reflex, we tested the capacity of harnessed worker bees to distinguish PVY-infected and healthy potato l

SUBMITTER: Corsico L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12486206 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature