INFLUENCE OF THE HONEYBEE ON FIREBLIGHT TRANSMISSION

ISHS Acta Horticulturae 117: II Symposium on Fireblight

INFLUENCE OF THE HONEYBEE ON FIREBLIGHT TRANSMISSION

Authors:

O. Van Laere, M. De Greef, L. De Wael

Abstract:
Cotoneaster salicifolius plants were subjected to possible infection by bees in isolated glass house compartments in order to study the influence of bees on transferring fireblight infection.

It has been demonstrated from the different tests that bees, while visiting the flowers, are able to transfer an Erwinia infection to healthy plants (Cotoneaster salicifolius)

after having been sprayed with an Erwinia suspension.
after having ingested a sugar solution, contaminated with Erwinia.
after having visited contaminated flowers.

No transfer of infection was found in the control tests.

Thorough infection was generally only observed when the bees had transmitted bacteria from infected flowers. Oral or spray artificial infection of the bees mainly leads to an epiphytic infection of the plants.

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