Page 25 - Vol.36-No.6 issue

BEES

BEE VECTORING TECHNOLOGIES ENTERS STATE-

FUNDED TRIAL IN SUNFLOWER CROPS WITH

NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bee Vectoring Technologies Enters sunflower florets, they deposit the “The disease management practices
State-funded Trial in Sunflower Crops agent directly into each bloom. In tri- we help develop doesn’t just impact
with North Dakota State University als conducted in 2016, 2017 and 2018, North Dakota producers,” says Mr. Ma-
bees were used to inoculate sunflower lik. “They are directly applicable to
today announced that it has entered heads with CR-7, BVT’s fungal biolog- producers in neighboring states (Min-
a new trial with North Dakota State Uni- ical control agent, resulting in 33-60% nesota, Montana, and South Dakota)
versity (NDSU) for sunflower crops. The reductions in Sclerotinia head rot un- and provinces (Manitoba and Saskatch-
trial will evaluate optimal hive distri- der moderate to severe disease pres- ewan). And with minor adjustments,
bution for application of BVT’s biologi- sure. The goal of these trials is to de- they will be applicable to producers in
cal fungicide, CR-7, in sunflower crops velop a disease management strategy other parts of the world.”
in North Dakota. The project is funded for strong, consistent control of head
by the North Dakota Department of rot, even under severe disease pres- Circle 29 on enquiry card
Agriculture, is approved by the Unit- sure. Results will be disseminated to
ed States Department of Agriculture producers and industry stakeholders COLONY-LEVEL
(USDA), and will be run by NDSU in co- at outreach meetings, in trade publi-
operation with BVT. In addition to the cations, and with reports published GENETICS
trials with NDSU, the Company will be online.
doing demonstration trials in Minneso-
ta and Idaho with key sunflower grow- “The disease management practices PREDICT GENTLE
ers. The setup of the trials is complete, we help develop doesn’t just impact
with the blooming season expected to North Dakota producers,” says Mr. Ma- BEHAVIOR IN
start in early August. lik. “They are directly applicable to
producers in neighboring states (Min-
“This is an exciting trial because it nesota, Montana, and South Dakota) PUERTO RICAN
will allow us to determine which seg- and provinces (Manitoba and Saskatch-
ments of the sunflower industry, which ewan). And with minor adjustments, HONEY BEES
is valued at nearly US$470 million(1) they will be applicable to producers in
through 1.3 million harvested acres(2) other parts of the world.”
annually in America alone, we can par-
ticipate in, and help determine the opti- Puerto Rico’s population of Afri-
mal beehive distribution to apply CR-7 can-European hybrid honey bees
in the fight against Sclerotinia head rot. (AHB) are famously known for being
The disease is a major challenge for much gentler than their continental
sunflower producers and identified as counterparts. Now Agricultural Re-
a high priority by the National Sunflow- search Service (ARS) scientists and
er Association. The heightened need their colleagues have found that this
for a cure has led to the state elected to reduced defending of the nest is de-
fund the trial,” says Ashish Malik, CEO termined by colony-level genetics as
of Bee Vectoring Technologies. “BVT is opposed to individual bees’ DNA, ac-
focused on improving agriculture sus- cording to a study just published in
tainability, and this trial aligns 100% the Proceedings of the National Acad-
with that focus. As a large field crop, Above: A BVT honey bee dispenser emy of Sciences (www.pnas.org/cgi/
pinpointing optimal hive distribution system on a sunflower field. doi/10.1073/pnas.1922927117) .
impacts sunflower growers greatly. Too In the BVT system, commercial- The researchers found no significant
little hive distribution impacts efficacy ly-reared bees come into contact with correlations between individual bees’
and too much is an economic hardship the biological control agent as they defensiveness and specific genes. By
for them.”
exit their hives. As they pollinate the contrast, they saw strong correlations
Sclerotinia head rot is a very serious sunflower florets, they deposit the between a colony’s level of defensive-
constraint to sunflower production that agent directly into each bloom. In tri- ness and how frequently specific genes
has led some growers to abandon pro- als conducted in 2016, 2017 and 2018, appeared within the colony.
duction. Crop rotation and fungicides bees were used to inoculate sunflower “It’s as if your home environment is
are ineffective against this disease, heads with CR-7, BVT’s fungal biolog- a better predictor of how belligerent
and partially-resistant hybrids are not ical control agent, resulting in 33-60% your temper is than are your individ-
available. The study will validate the reductions in Sclerotinia head rot un- ual tendencies in responding to situa-
technology, quantify the distribution der moderate to severe disease pres- tions. In more scientific terms, for these
of hives needed to achieve satisfactory sure. The goal of these trials is to de- bees, it is the frequency of the appear-
head rot control, and address a signifi- velop a disease management strategy ance of a gene in the genetic makeup
cant need in the sunflower industry. for strong, consistent control of head of the colony that is a better predictor
rot, even under severe disease pres-
Above: A BVT honey bee dispenser sure. Results will be disseminated to than is the genetic makeup of a single
system on a sunflower field. producers and industry stakeholders bee,” explained ARS geneticist Arian
Avalos with the Honey Bee Breeding,
In the BVT system, commercial- at outreach meetings, in trade publi- Genetics, and Physiology Research
ly-reared bees come into contact with cations, and with reports published Unit in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who led
the biological control agent as they online. the study.
exit their hives. As they pollinate the Circle 30 on enquiry card

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