Detection of novel probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus spp. in the workers of Indian honeybee, Apis cerana indica

Many insects are known to have microorganisms in the gut which can play an important role in their nutrition. In the present study, we report the presence of probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus spp. in the gut of the honeybee sub species Apis cerana indica collected from different parts of Karnataka, India which play a very significant role in the general health maintenance of the host. Total bacterial genomic DNA was extracted from the midguts of the worker honeybee sub species Apis cerana indica, collected from different parts of Karnataka and amplified using PCR, with 16S rRNA primers. The amplified PCR products were purified and sequenced directly. This partial, 16S rDNA sequences from Apis cerana indica revealed the presence of novel bacterial flora composed of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which originated in the honey stomach of the Indian honeybee (Genbank accession number: EU392167) which has a putative health-conferring properties of probiotics. © 2010

Influence of bee-attractants on yield parameters of ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula L.) (cucurbitaceae)

Ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula L.) is an important green vegetable among cucurbitaceous crops. It is highly cross-pollinated and depends on various pollinating agents. Studies were made on foraging time and frequency of honeybee visitation on Ridge gourd, influence of bee-attractants in increasing bee visitation, effectiveness of bee-attractants in yield parameters on Ridge gourd at Kuntanahalli, Bangalore district, India. The crop was raised with recommended package of practices in RBD (Randomized Block Design) having 5x5m plot size with a spacing of 5 m in the farmers field during Kharif season of 2007. Treatments involved were, spraying of Bee-Q @ 10, 12,5 and 15 gms/l, Fruit boost @ 0.50, 0.75 and 1 ml/l, Cinnamon leaf extract @ 5, Tuberose floral scented water, 10 sugar solution and crop deprived is control, which is open pollinated. Spraying of Fruit boost @ 0.5 ml/l and Bee-Q @ 12.5 gms/l enhanced yield parameters like number of fruits / plant to 19.00 and 17.00 fruits, when compared to 10.66 fruits / plant in open pollinated plot. Number of fruits was 21.83 and 20.83 fruits / plot, when compared to15.68 fruits / plot in open pollinated plots. Fruit length was 42.41 and 41.21cm, when compared to 32.95 cm in open pollinated plots. Fruit weight was 285.00 and 246.33 gms, when compared to 229.67 gms in open pollinated plots and yield was 154.00 and 152.00 q/ha, when compared to 130.67 q/ha in open pollinated plots were studied. © IDOSI Publications, 2011

Prevalence of Wolbachia in the European honeybee, Apis mellifera carnica

Intracellular endosymbiont, Wolbachia spp., have been previously reported in many different orders of insects, but not in the European honeybee sub species Apis mellifera carnica. We first report the presence of Wolbachia spp. in the honeybee sub spp. Apis mellifera carnica of the order Hymenoptera. Using standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, we screened for Wolbachia spp. in honeybee Queen and workers collected from different parts of Germany. Results of the study revealed 100 infection status of Wolbachia in Apis mellifera carnica collected from different parts of Germany, confirming that the Wolbachia spp. were invariably present in the honeybee Queen and the workers screened. © IDOSI Publications, 2011