Abstract
A saprophytic soil fungus, Aspergillus flavus, produces aflatoxin (toxigenic strains) in the kernels of corn (Zea mays L.) and seeds of many other crops. Many strains of A. flavus do not produce toxigenic aflatoxin, and soil application of these atoxigenic strains is a suppressive control tactic to assist in controlling toxigenic conspecifics. Effects of atoxigenic A. flavus applications on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) and other bees are unknown, and basic information on bee occurrences in cornfields treated with and without this biological agent is needed to inform integrated pest management in corn. Fields receiving atoxigenic A. flavus applications of FourSureTM were compared to nearby control fields in three counties in corn production regions in eastern Texas. In each cornfield, 20 bee bowl traps were deployed along four equal transects located between corn rows, with contents of the bowls (i.e., bees) retrieved after 24 h. Eleven bee genera from four families were collected from cornfields, with only two honey bees collected and zero honey bees observed in transects. The sweat bee genus Agapostemon (primarily composed of the Texas striped sweat bee A. texanus) was most abundant in cornfields (44% of the total number of bees collected), followed by long-horned bees (Melissodes spp., 24%). The southernmost county (i.e., San Patricio) produced over 80% of the total number of bees collected. Bee numbers occurring in cornfields with applications of atoxigenic A. flavus applications were not significantly different from those of nearby control fields. Although not statistically significant, total numbers of bees tended to be lower in FourSure-treated fields than in control fields. More extensive research on bee abundances in relation to the effect of atoxigenic A. flavus is warranted.
Highlights
Aspergillus flavus is a common saprophytic soil fungus that produces toxigenic aflatoxin in the kernels of corn (Zea mays L.) [1], seeds of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) [2], and seeds of many other crops both before and after harvest [3]
Two honey bee and two green sweat bee (Augochlorella sp.) individuals were collected in bee bowls, while the long-horned bee (Svastra sp.), a masked bee (Hylaeus sp.), and a leafcutter bee (Megachile sp.) were collected as singletons
While previous studies have reported honey bees foraging in corn [16,17], we found extremely few honey bees, which is similar to an earlier study [12] in which bee bowls were elevated at tassel height and few honey bees were recovered from traps
Summary
Aspergillus flavus is a common saprophytic soil fungus that produces toxigenic aflatoxin in the kernels of corn (Zea mays L.) [1], seeds of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) [2], and seeds of many other crops both before and after harvest [3]. Toxigenic A. flavus causes ear rot in corn, one of the most important diseases, which diminishes grain quality and marketability, and livestock health if the affected grain is consumed. A. flavus by producing aflatoxin before harvest and in storage [4,5], and, advancing practices for its control is necessary. A previous study reported that one of several species of Aspergillus causes stonebrood in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) [6], and, applications of A. flavus should consider impacts on pollinator health. The use of atoxigenic conspecific strains of A. flavus is the most common biocontrol method for reducing aflatoxin
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