Abstract
This study was designed to examine the protective effects of nano-selenium and nano-zinc oxide on queen and workers performance under heat stress condition and gene expression of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) as an index of heat tolerance. Sixty colonies were randomly assigned to five treatments with 12 replicates from June until early September. Sugar syrup (50%) containing no supplement or nano-selenium at levels of 50 and 100 µg L-1 or nano-zinc at levels of 100 and 200 µg L-1 was fed to colonies. Nano-selenium supplementations had no effect, but nano-zinc at level of 100 µg L-1 significantly decreased body malondialdehyde concentration. The highest bee population was seen in nano-zinc at level of 100 µg L-1 and the lowest one in control group. The lowest and the highest body weight, fat and protein deposition was found in group received nano-zinc at level of 100 µg L-1 and control, respectively. The highest gene expression was for group received nano-zinc at level of 100 µg L-1 In group received nano-zinc at level of 100 µg L-1, an increase in hsp70 gene expression was found. In conclusion, nano-zinc oxide at level of 100 µg L-1 could increase queen and worker performance and heat resistance of bees in the hot climate condition.
Highlights
In the tropical and subtropical areas coupled with high humidity, honey bees will congregate on the bottom of frames or outside of the hive on very hot days and prefer not to work (Blazyte-Cereskiene et al, 2010)
Activation of some genes like heat shock protein 70 is important for heat resistance (Paynter et al, 2017), because this protein protect the cells from heat and stress damages
Nano-particles in honey bee effect compared to the control group, but nano-zinc oxide supplementation at the level of 100 100 μg L-1 decreased significantly body malondialdehyde concentration
Summary
In the tropical and subtropical areas coupled with high humidity, honey bees will congregate on the bottom of frames or outside of the hive on very hot days and prefer not to work (Blazyte-Cereskiene et al, 2010). In these conditions, water and pollen deficiency and thermal stress affect the survival rate and performance of colonies (Atmowidjojo et al, 1997; Joshi & Joshi, 2010). The present study was designed to examine the protective effect of nano-selenium and nano-zinc oxide on queen and workers performance under heat stress condition and gene expression heat shock protein as an index of heat tolerance
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