Pathogen-induced changes in floral scent may increase honeybee-mediated dispersal of Erwinia amylovora.

ABSTRACT: Honeybees are well recognised for their key role in plant reproduction as pollinators. On the other hand, their activity may vector some pathogens, such as the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, the causative agent of fire blight disease in pomaceous plants. In this research, we evaluated whether honeybees are able to discriminate between healthy and E. amylovora-infected flowers, thus altering the dispersal of the pathogen. For this reason, honeybees were previously trained to forage either on inoculated or healthy (control) apple flower. After the training, the two honeybee groups were equally exposed to inoculated and control flowering apple plants. To assess their preference, three independent methods were used: (1) direct count of visiting bees per time frame; (2) incidence on apple flowers

SUBMITTER: Cellini A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6461938 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature