Effect of Abscisic Acid (ABA) Combined with Two Different Beekeeping Nutritional Strategies to Confront Overwintering: Studies on Honey Bees’ Population Dynamics and Nosemosis

Abstract

In temperate climates, beekeeping operations suffer colony losses and colony depopulation of Apis mellifera during overwintering, which are associated with biotic and abiotic stressors that impact bees’ health. In this work, we evaluate the impacts of abscisic acid (ABA) dietary supplementation on honey bee colonies kept in Langstroth hives. The effects of ABA were evaluated in combination with two different beekeeping nutritional strategies to confront overwintering: “honey management” and “syrup management”. Specifically, we evaluated strength parameters of honey bee colonies (adult bee and brood population) and the population dynamics of Nosema (prevalence and intensity) associated with both nutritional systems and ABA supplementation during the whole study (late autumn-winter-early spring). The entire experiment was designed and performed with a local group of beekeepers, “Azahares del sudeste”, who showed interest in answering problems associated with the management of honey bee colonies during the winter. The results indicated that the ABA supplementation had positive effects on the population dynamics of the A. mellifera colonies during overwintering and on the nosemosis at colony level (prevalence) in both nutritional strategies evaluated.

Effects of dietary supplementation with abscisic acid on Apis mellifera colonies confined in overwintering nucleus: studies on the adult honey bee population, nosemosis, and expression of nutrition- and immune-related genes

“…Similarly, other studies have shown that the ABA dietary supplementation in honey bee colonies kept in Langstroth hives in combination with two different beekeeping nutritional strategies to confront overwintering, "honey management", and "syrup management" had positive effects on the population dynamics. In such conditions, A. mellifera colonies reached stable levels of adults bees, increased brood during overwintering, and tended to prevent nosemosis at the colony level (prevalence) (Szawarski et al, 2019). The honey bee colonies supplemented with ABA showed that the level of parasitized individuals did not increase significantly in late winter, in contrast with the control, which increased significantly (Szawarski et al, 2019).…”

“…In such conditions, A. mellifera colonies reached stable levels of adults bees, increased brood during overwintering, and tended to prevent nosemosis at the colony level (prevalence) (Szawarski et al, 2019). The honey bee colonies supplemented with ABA showed that the level of parasitized individuals did not increase significantly in late winter, in contrast with the control, which increased significantly (Szawarski et al, 2019).…”

Bee Stressors from an Immunological Perspective and Strategies to Improve Bee Health

“…Abscisic acid (ABA), a natural component found in nectar, honey, pollen, and honeybees, is critical for bees’ health. In the dietary strategies tested, ABA supplementation positively impacted the population dynamics of A. mellifera colonies during overwintering and nosemosis at the colony level (prevalence) [ 158 ]. Most protein supplements are made from high-protein foods such as soy, yeast, or natural pollen, such as MegaBee ® , Feed-Bee ® , Bee-Pro ® , Global Patties ® , and Ultra Bee ® [ 159 ].…”

Towards Precision Nutrition: A Novel Concept Linking Phytochemicals, Immune Response and Honey Bee Health

“…They find that low temperatures and ABA induce the expression of several immune-associated genes in honey bee larvae, supporting that the immune system is active during cold stress response and reinforcing the connection between honey bees’ response to cold stress and ABA (Table 1). Recently, Szawarski et al [117] evaluated the effects of ABA in combination with two different beekeeping nutritional strategies to confront overwintering, one based on honey and the other on syrup supplementation. The results indicate that the ABA supplementation has positive effects on the population dynamics of the A. mellifera colonies during overwintering and decreased Nosema loads at colony level (prevalence) in both the nutritional strategies evaluated (Table 1).…”

“…In animals, ABA is considered as a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in key processes leading to the activation of innate immune responses like phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species and NO production, and the chemotaxis of human granulocytes [137]. Through a series of correlative works, it is reported that ABA plays a role in immune and anti-stress responses in honey bees [52,75,107,109,117]. Here we would like to highlight the relevance that studying, connecting and integrating the evidences found in both vertebrates and invertebrates might have to understand the effects of plant-derived compounds over animals’ innate immunity.…”