Beneficial Effects of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis Mori2, a Honey-Associated Strain, on Honeybee Colony Performance

• Published in: Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 39 - 46
• Main Authors: Sabaté, D. C., Cruz, M. S., Benítez-Ahrendts, M. R., Audisio, M. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01-03-2012
• Subjects: Applied Microbiology; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Microbiology; Nutrition; Protein Science; Apis mellifera; Probiotic; subsp; Colony performance; Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis
• ISSN: 1867-1306; 1867-1314
• DOI: 10.1007/s12602-011-9089-0

A
Bacillus
spp. strain isolated from a honey sample in Morillos (Salta, Argentina) was phylogenetically characterized as
B. subtilis
subsp.
subtilis
Mori2. The strain was administered to bee colonies as a monoculture in one litre of sugarcane syrup (125 g/L) at a final concentration of 10
5
 spores/mL to evaluate the bee colony performance. The treated colony was monitored, and any changes were compared with the control hives. All conditions were identical (weather, nourishment and supervision), except for the
Bacillus
spore supplement. The new nourishment, which was administered monthly from May to December 2010, was accepted by the bees and consumed within ca. 24–48 h. Photograph records and statistic analyses revealed significant differences in the open and operculated brood areas between the treated and control groups. The status of the colony improved after the second administration of the
Bacillus
spores until the end of the experiment. A higher number of bees were counted in the treated groups (26% more than the control) with respect to the initial number. Furthermore, at the time of harvest, honey storage in the treated hives was 17% higher than in the control hives. In addition, spore counts of both
Nosema
sp. and
Varroa
sp. foretica in treated hives were lower than in the control hives. These results with experimental hives would indicate that
B. subtilis
subsp.
subtilis
Mori2 favoured the performance of bees; firstly, because the micro-organism stimulated the queen’s egg laying, translating into a higher number of bees and consequently more honey. Secondly, because it reduced the prevalence of two important bee diseases worldwide: nosemosis and varroosis.