Effectiveness of Apis mellifera and Bombus impatiens as dispersers of the Rootshield® biofungicide (Trichoderma harzianum, strain T-22) in a strawberry crop.
2009; Benaki Phytopathological Institute; Volume: 2; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1791-3691
AutoresSílvia Albano, Madeleine Chagnon, D. de Oliveira, E. Houle, Pierre Thibodeau, António Mexia,
Tópico(s)Plant pathogens and resistance mechanisms
ResumoTwo experiments were performed in Quebec (Canada), in the field and in a greenhouse, to assess the effectiveness of Apis mellifera L. and Bombus impatiens Cresson (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in transmitting Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, strain T-22, to strawberry flowers from hives-mounted dispensers containing the biofungicide Rootshield ® . The number of Colony Forming Units (CFU) of T. harzianum was determined: (i) on bees exiting from hives-mounted dispensers containing the biofungicide ; (ii) on foragers visiting the strawberry flowers; (iii) on open flowers exposed to pollinator visits; (iv) on flowers that had only one visit, and (v) on flowers without visits. The results showed that both honey bees and bumble bees have the potential to get dusted with T. harzianum from the Houle-dispensers and disperse the biofungicide to the flowers. The assay with bumble bees allowed to obtain positive correlations between the CFU per bumble bee and the CFU per flower and also, between the length of visit and the CFU per flower. The density of inoculum that was deposited after one single visit of honey bee or bumble bee was also determined. Advantages and limitations of the used hive-dispensers were identified for future improvements.
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