Pollen Mixture Research Articles

Estimating the impact of pollen and air pollution mixtures on respiratory morbidity in Atlanta, GA during 2005-2018

Estimating the impact of pollen and air pollution mixtures on respiratory morbidity in Atlanta, GA during 2005-2018

The impact of extraction method and pollen concentration on community composition for pollen metabarcoding

AbstractPremisePlants and pollinators closely interact with each other to form complex networks of species interactions. Metabarcoding of pollen collections has recently been proposed as an advantageous method for the construction of such networks, but the extent to which diversity and community analyses depend on the extraction method and pollen concentration used remains unclear.MethodsIn this study, we used a dilution series of two pollen mixtures (a mock community and pooled natural pollen loads from bumblebees) to assess the effect of mechanical homogenization and two DNA extraction kits (spin column DNA extraction kit and magnetic bead DNA extraction kit) on the detected pollen richness and community composition.ResultsAll species were successfully detected using the three methods, even in the most dilute samples. However, the extraction method had a significant effect on the detected pollen richness and community composition, with simple mechanical homogenization introducing an extraction bias.DiscussionOur findings suggest that all three methods are effective for detecting plant species in the pollen loads on insects, even in cases of very low pollen loads. However, our results also indicate that extraction methods can have a profound impact on the ability to correctly assess the community composition of the pollen loads on insects. The choice of extraction methodology should therefore be carefully considered to ensure reliable and unbiased results in pollen diversity and community analyses.

Evaluation of garden strawberry seedling for productivity and its components

Fragaria × ananassa Duch refers to common and popular berry crops. Its productivity is used to characterize the cultivation of a variety in a particular region and the acceptability for industrial cultivation. The experiment was conducted to evaluate promising garden strawberry seedlings by productivity and its components, as well as to select the best seedlings for breeding. The experiment was carried out in 2022-2023 at the Orenburg breeding site of the FSBSO ARHCBAN. The research invloved six promising seedlings from three crossing combinations: ‘Darenka’ × ‘Bereginya’ + ‘Lord’ (pollen mixture), ‘Vima Xsima’ × ‘Studencheskaya’, ‘Lord’ × ‘Tsaritsa’ + ‘Kent’ (pollen mixture). The released variety ‘Senga Sengana’ was chosen as a control. Strawberry productivity potential is determined by main morphostructural components: number of pedicels, number of fruits per bush and their average weight. The number of pedicels per bush of the studied seedlings varied on average from 5.2 (No. 7-3-42) and from 4.3 (No. 6-2-34) to 8.0 pcs in the figure. (No. 6-2-36). The highest number of fruits per bush 39.0 pcs. was observed in seedlings No. 6-2-36, No. 6-2-30 and 37.0 pcs. in No. 6-1-7, while the least number of formed berries was detected in control variety Senga Sengana. Seedlings No. 6-2-36, No. 6-2-33, an d No. 7-3-42 obtained large berries during the research period, their average weight amounted to 9.1-9.2 g. The productivity of seedlings ranged from 196.1 to 358.8 g/bush. The promising seedling No. 6-2-36 was distinguished by productivity, number of pedicels and fruits, as well as average berry weight.

Exploring the impact of protein diets on the honey bee (Apis mellifera L): a study on intestinal tissue health and royal jelly protein level

The growth and development of a honey bee colony fundamentally rely on proper nutrition, leading beekeepers to nourish their hives to maintain the health and productivity of their colonies. Nevertheless, the substances utilized in honey bee nutrition vary widely, necessitating thorough research to evaluate their effects on the performance and health of honey bees. Herein, the supplemental diets commonly used by beekeepers for feeding bee colonies including soybean (Glycine max), maize pollen grains (Zea mays L), and a mixture of soybean and pollen grains, in addition to sugar solution as control group are evaluated. This study was conducted on both intestinal tissues as the main place of digestion and absorption and royal jelly (RJ) proteins as a final product that reflects physiological reactions within the insect’s body. Soybean has been observed to have detrimental effects on both the health of the intestinal tissue, causing atrophy of the epithelial cells and weakening of the stomach muscles. Additionally, a decrease in the secretory vesicles (SV) and the gelatinous layer (GL) within the intestine was noted. However, when honey bee colonies were fed on pollen, it helped maintain the molecular balance and high molecular weight proteins in RJ. Bee pollen diet also resulted in an increased production of SV. Conversely, feeding honey bees a mixture of soybean and pollen had catastrophic effects on both the intestinal tissue and RJ proteins. It also led to coagulation in the peritrophic membrane (PMb), which is crucial for protecting the intestinal walls and performing other physiological functions. This, in turn, impacted the absorption of proteins, the levels of SV, and GL. Consequently, it is suggested to incorporate bee pollen as a dietary supplement in the feeding plan of honey bees.

Bombus terrestris Prefer Mixed-Pollen Diets for a Better Colony Performance: A Laboratory Study.

Pollen is a major source of proteins and lipids for bumblebees. The nutritional content of pollen may differ from source plants, ultimately affecting colony development. This study investigated the foraging preferences of Bombus terrestris in regard to four pollen species, i.e., oilseed rape, wild apricot, sunflower, and buckwheat, under laboratory conditions. The results show that B. terrestris diversified their preference for pollens; the bumblebees mostly preferred wild apricot pollen, whereas sunflower pollen was the least preferred. The colonies fed on a mixed four-pollen diet, with a protein-lipid ratio of 4.55-4.86, exhibited better development in terms of the number of offspring, individual body size and colony weight. The colonies fed with buckwheat and sunflower pollens produced a significantly lower number of workers and failed to produce queen and male offspring. Moreover, wild apricot pollen had the richest protein content (23.9 g/100 g) of the four pollen species, whereas oilseed rape pollen had the highest lipid content (6.7 g/100 g), as revealed by the P:L ratios of wild apricot, sunflower, buckwheat, and oilseed rape, which were 6.76, 5.52, 3.50, and 3.37, respectively. Generally, B. terrestris showed feeding preferences regarding different pollens and a mixture of pollens, which ultimately resulted in differences in colony development. The findings of this study provide important baseline information to researchers and developers of nutritive pollen diets for bumblebees.

Electrospun Propolis-coated PLGA Scaffold Enhances the Osteoinduction of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Major injuries that are caused by trauma and cancer can not be repaired through bone remodeling. The goal of bone regeneration by tissue engineering approaches is to fabricate bone implants in order to restore bone structure and functions. The use of stem cells and polymer scaffolds provides the conditions for tissue regeneration based on tissue engineering. This study aimed to fabricate a combined matrix of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and propolis extract, which is a mixture of pollen and beeswax collected by bees from certain plants and has long been used in traditional herbal medicine, to promote the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose- derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs). The scaffold was fabricated through electrospinning and was immersed in a propolis extract solution. Then, AD-MSCs were cultured and differentiated into the osteogenic lineage. The cell viability on the scaffold was evaluated by MTT assay. Osteogenic differentiation of the seeded stem cells was detected by evaluating calcium content, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and the expression of bonespecific genes. The viability of cells was not affected by propolis-coated and uncoated fabricated scaffolds, while higher calcium content, ALP activity, and expression of RUNX-2, type I collagen, osteocalcin, and osteonectin were observed in cells differentiated on propolis-coated PLGA scaffold on days 7, 14, and 21 of differentiation compared to PLGA scaffold. The results of this study showed that the presence of propolis in the scaffold could lead to better cell attachment and strengthen the osteoinduction process in stem cells.

Multi-Angle Swirling Fluidized Bed Drying Of Stingless Bees Pot-Pollen

Pot-pollen is another stingless bee product, a mixture of pollen, honey, and bee enzyme stored in cerumen pots. Pot-pollen is protein rich and have therapeutic properties. However, they contain high moisture rendering them susceptible to microbial and fungi growth which will lead to spoilage without proper storage. Conventional methods to remove moisture includes sun drying, oven drying, and food dehydrators. However, they can be unhygienic, reduce pot-pollen quality, and lengthy drying time. Swirling fluidized bed dryer (SFBD) is a promising alternative as they have rapid drying time without damaging the nutrients. The addition of multi-angle swirling distributor (MASD) has the potential to improve drying performance without additional energy input. The current study aim to investigate the drying performance of swirling fluidized bed dryer with multi-angle distributor. Raw pot-pollen is dried in a lab scale SFBD at 3.0 m/s using single angle and multi-angle swirling distributors, 6767, 6730, and 6745. The results shown that the multi-angle swirling distributors 6730 and 6745 improved the drying performance of SFBD, by 17.1 % and 6.5 %, respectively. The best drying performance is shown by the 6730 distributor. Thus, multi-angle SFBD is able to rapidly dry the heat-sensitive stingless bee pot-pollen and represented significant improvement from single angle SFBD.

3-year results of hop hybrids testing

Chuvashia has long been the main hop producer in the Soviet Union. Today, the Tsivilsky district of Chuvashia is the northernmost point of the hop breeding process. To revive this crop in the hop farms of the Chuvash Research Institute of Agriculture, the study of hybrids of common hop (Humulus Lupulus L.), grown from seeds obtained from different combinations of varieties of the hop collection of the Chuvash Research Institute of Agriculture is being carried out. The aim of the work is to breed new high-yielding hop varieties of high quality, adapted to the agroclimatic conditions of Chuvashia. The planting of the selection and control nursery was carried out in 2015. The article presents the results of the research for 2020-2022. As a control, 2 varieties were taken. Standard 1 - Podvyazny, has long been the standard in terms of yield, quality, and stability. It belongs to the medium-maturing group of varieties. Standard 2 - Fakir, the best variety of the mid-early group from a series of recently developed varieties. Plants grown from seeds obtained from female plants of Saxon, Marinka, Late Cluster, Porphyry 16 and Plunscher were studied. Male plants of different varieties were used as pollinators by random pollination or by pollen mixture using isolators. A complex of economically useful traits was investigated. The main ones, yield and alpha acid content in cones, are given in the article. Depending on agroclimatic conditions during the years of research, separate hybrid combinations were assigned. Only two combinations - Porfir 16 × SR - 25.3 kg/ha, which showed itself as a medium-ripening variety with an alpha acid content of 5.2% and Saxon × SR - 33 kg/ha - showed itself as a medium-early variety with an alpha acid content of 6.1%. Several combinations also outperformed Podvyazny in some years, either in terms of yield or quality, but there was no consistent outperformance in all three years.

Diversity in bee pollen from three phytogeographical regions in Turkey

Bee pollen is a mixture of bee secretions, plant pollen and nectar and has a valuable nutritional composition for both bees and humans. The aim of this study was to investigate plant diversity in pollen collected by honey bees from three phytogeographic regions (Mediterranean, Euro-Siberian and Irano-Turanian). Melissopalynological analysis of bee pollen pellets collected from Mediterranean (15), Irano-Turanian (6), and Euro-Siberian (7) in Turkey were analysed. The Shannon–Weaver diversity (H′), richness, and Pielou’s evenness index (J′) were used to compare between bee pollen pellets. In all three phytogeographic regions, herbaceous species are more than tree and shrub species. A total of 80 pollen types belonging to 38 families were identified in these regions. Cistus sp., Trifolium sp., Papaver sp. and Verbascum sp. in Mediterranean; Filipendula sp. and Salix sp. in Irano-Turanian; and Sambucus sp., Helianthemum sp., Onobrychis sp., and Rubus sp. in Euro-Siberian were all determined to be predominant taxa. When pollen was evaluated based on its morphological characteristics, bees preferred medium (41), isopolar (74), prolate (38), 3-colporate (49), reticulate (23), and psilate (22) pollen than other characteristics. The H′ values in polyfloral pollen were higher than bifloral and monofloral pollens. The J’ of polyfloral, bifloral, and monofloral was 0.73 to 0.85, 0.68 to 0.84, and 0.32–0.97, respectively. The results obtained in this study, are important for the establishment of beekeeping in the right areas in terms of plant diversity.

Genç Cimnastikçilerde Arı Ürünlerinin Egzersiz Performansına ve Kan Kimyası Özelliklerine Etkisi

Honeybee products have recently begun to attract attention with their effects on athlete performance. In the present study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of honeybee products’ mixtures on the performance and some blood biochemical parameters of young trained gymnasts. Twenty-four young gymnasts aged between 6 and 12 years were observed for 4 weeks as they continued their usual daily training schedules. The gymnasts were divided into three groups. Group 1 was administered a mixture of honey and bee pollen at a dose of 50 g/day, whereas Group 2 was provided with a mixture of honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis. Group 3 served as the control group and was administered a placebo of wheat starch at a dose of 50g/day. In the beginning and at the end of the study, performance parameters and biochemical parameters of young gymnasts were determined. After treatment, grip force and muscular strength measurements increased in Group 2 (p<0.05). The muscular endurance tests in the two honeybee product mixtures treatment groups showed improvement after supplementation (p<0.05). The improvement noted in the power test in Group 1 was significantly higher than the other groups (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between treatment and placebo groups in all investigated biochemical parameters except total protein, which was lower in placebo group. Although bee products supplements were administered only for a short period of time, the gymnasts showed higher performance in some investigated parameters. It is recommended to conduct further long-term studies using bee products.

Enhanced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of bee pollen and honey hybrid formulation by hot-melt extrusion

Modifying the complex wall structure of bee pollen is a way to enhance the uptake of bioactive compounds. Bee Pollen and Bee Honey hybrid formulation (BPHF) are made by hot melt extrusion (HME), which is known to be the best cell wall structure-breaking method for active compound extraction because it can break the fibrous matrix of the compounds. Honey and bee pollen mixtures showed increased antioxidant activity with increased phenolic and flavonoid contents and decreased inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) values compared to the control group. In addition, the content of gallic acid, one of the phenolic acids, increased about four times in the HME-F3 formulation compared to the control group, indicating that the phenol content was rich, but the HME-F3 formulation decreased in comparison. All samples had nano-sized particles. The Polydispersity index (PDI) value of the HME-F3 formulation was reduced and well distributed, and the stability of the particles was confirmed in the zeta potential results. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the image change of the sample after HME compared to the existing bee pollen image, and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the particles of the mixed formulation were uniformly dispersed. Fourier-transform Infrared Analysis (FT-IR) results showed that there were structural changes in the mixture formulation compared to the control, and X-ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) results showed that all samples were amorphous. It was found that the HME-F3 formulation could resist inflammation and protect the function of the intestinal epithelial wall. The mRNA levels of TJ-related proteins in the mixed formulation were reduced compared to LPS treatment and control.

Can honey bees be used to detect rare plants? Taking an eDNA approach to find the last plants in a weed eradication program

AbstractThe detection of rare taxa, crucial to conservation and biosecurity, presents many challenges that emerging technologies have the potential to address or avoid. Analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) is a promising tool for the detection of rare species, especially when applied in a way that exploits natural processes to accumulate biological material (natural aggregation). This study investigated the potential of using honey bees as aggregators of pollen eDNA to detect Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera (boneseed), an introduced species targeted for eradication in Western Australia. We developed a species‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based assay that detected boneseed pollen at levels as low as 70 grains per million in a constructed pollen mixture. The assay was successfully used on wild‐caught bees from large boneseed populations, confirming they collect boneseed pollen. However, our results did not detect boneseed DNA in honey bee pollen collected from hive pollen traps near isolated boneseed plants. We hypothesize that a combination of low abundance of boneseed individuals, vast alternative flower resources at the time of boneseed flowering, and honey bee behavior and ecology may have led to lack of detection. We propose ways in which future work using honey bees to detect rare species can be improved. We also outline how other eDNA substrates (e.g., air and water samples) could be used with the PCR assay we have developed. More broadly, our work highlights the potential of eDNA techniques to detect rare species in biosecurity and conservation contexts and contributes to the development of pollinator‐based detection.

Review of the biology, ecology, and taxonomy of the bees of the families Ctenoplectridae, Fideliidae, Oxaeidae, and Stenotritidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

The Ctenoplectridae are characterized by short tongues, modified scope, and large comb-like tibial spurs adapted to collect and carry a mixture of floral oils and pollen collect floral oil, pollen, and nectar from a few genera of the family Cucurbitaceae. However, three species are thought to be kleptoparasites. A family Fideliinae of bees that is diverse throughout the world. The bees belonging to this group have diversified nesting behavior, being able to build their babies in pre-existing cavities such as woods, rocks, and alone. Large, very rare, fast-flying, ground-nesting solitary bees. The Oxaeidae are restricted to the New World and there are several species in the Tropics. Apparently, all of its species are solitary. Bees have tegumentary exocrine glands in the abdomen, the tergal glands, distributed dorsally and the sternal glands ventrally. The Stenotritidae are large, densely hairy bees, that fly at high speed and make simple nests on the ground. They place masses of ovoid stores in the cells. These are arranged in rows and are covered with a waterproof secretion. The larvae do not spin cocoons. This work studies the biology, ecology, and taxonomy of the parasitoids of the families of bee Ctenoplectridae, Fideliidae, Oxaeidae, and Stenotritidae. In terms of the type of research source, we worked with scientific articles published in national and international journals. This modality of production, in addition to being commonly the most valued in the set of bibliographic production, is the most easily accessed. Access to articles was through virtual libraries such as SciELO, the University of São Paulo, Latin American Literature, and the University of Brasilia.

Evaluation of diets for mass rearing of the predatory bug Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Miridae)

Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera, Miridae) is a predatory bug which is widely used in biocontrol. This bug can consume both plant and animal matter. In the present paper, three alternative diets were evaluated in mass rearing of nymphs of N tenuis maintained in cages on tobacco plants: eggs of the grain moth Sitotroga cerealella, cysts of Artemia salina, and bee-collected pollen. Adults of N tenuis were fed a mixture of grain moth eggs and pollen during oviposition. The type of diet did not effect the survival of nymph. Output of adults was higher when nymphs were fed grain moth eggs than Artemia cysts while the body weight of adult bugs did not differ.

Total Protein Content of Bee Bread in Apis cerana Combs and Tetragonula pegdeni Storage Pots of Different Plant Sources from Chanthaburi Province, Thailand

Bee bread is produced from fermented pollen. It is a popular bee product with high levels of protein and nutrients. The bee bread samples were collected from eight indigenous bee colonies in Chanthaburi province: three colonies of Apis cerana and five colonies of Tetragonula pegdeni. The study aims to compare the total protein content of bee bread using the Bradford assay and to identify the plant families that are food sources for these bees using the acetolysis. The results revealed that the protein content of bee bread from A. cerana ranged between 1.48±0.14 and 7.03±0.54 g/100 g, whereas it ranged between 1.78±0.43 and 2.60±0.13 g/100 g in T. pegdeni. Moreover, this result reveals a correlation between the food plant diversity and bee foraging. The pollen grains from bee bread of A. cerana and T. pegdeni were dominant in the family Fabaceae, high-protein plants. Besides, A. cerana (AC3) had the highest protein content of the main mixture of Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Malvaceae pollen. Furthermore, the major plant families in this bee bread were Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Juncaceae. Tetragonula pegdeni had a greater pollen diversity of bee bread than A. cerana, which was dominant in the families Xyridaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Fagaceae, Poaceae, and Rutaceae. As a result, the total protein content of the A. cerana colonies was higher than that of the T. pegdeni colonies. As a result, bee bread may be used as a protein source derived from bee products.

Tolerability and Safety of Sublingual Immunotherapy in Patients with Tree Pollen Allergy in Daily Practice-An Open, Prospective, Non-Interventional Study.

To investigate the tolerability and safety of two sublingual tree pollen extracts approved in 2018, a non-interventional study (NIS) was performed. This NIS was an 8-month observational study conducted at 84 sites throughout Germany. Study participants received either a sublingual liquid allergen extract of birch pollen (SBPE) or a liquid allergen extract consisting of a mixture of birch, hazel, and alder tree pollen (STPE). Data from 432 patients were analyzed for the occurrence of adverse events and patient compliance. At least one local reaction occurred in 69 (22.2%) patients, whereas systemic reactions were only observed in 27 (6.3%) patients. STPE-treated patients developed systemic reactions more frequently than SBPE-treated patients (SBPE: 9 (4.3%) vs. STPE: 18 (8.0%)). Only one patient developed a systemic grade III reaction. Severe systemic grade IV reactions were not observed. A total of 348 (98.6%) of the patients who completed all visits were satisfied or very satisfied with the sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), and 322 (71%) patients completed all visits. Both investigated products were well tolerated by the patients and demonstrated a good safety profile. AEs were observed less frequently than in the preceding clinical phase III trial, and no new safety concerns were identified.

Antiviral Potential of Specially Selected Bulgarian Propolis Extracts: In Vitro Activity against Structurally Different Viruses.

Propolis is a natural mixture of resins, wax, and pollen from plant buds and flowers, enriched with enzymes and bee saliva. It also contains various essential oils, vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements, hormones, and ferments. It has been found that propolis possesses antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. We have studied the antiviral activity of six extracts of Bulgarian propolis collected from six districts of Bulgaria. The study was conducted against structurally different viruses: human coronavirus strain OC-43 (HCoV OC-43) and human respiratory syncytial virus type 2 (HRSV-2) (enveloped RNA viruses), human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) (enveloped DNA virus), human rhinovirus type 14 (HRV-14) (non-enveloped RNA virus) and human adenovirus type 5 (HadV-5) (non-enveloped DNA virus). The influence of the extracts on the internal replicative cycle of viruses was determined using the cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition test. The virucidal activity, its impact on the stage of viral adsorption to the host cell, and its protective effect on healthy cells were evaluated using the final dilution method, making them the focal points of interest. The change in viral infectivity under the action of propolis extracts was compared with untreated controls, and Δlgs were determined. Most propolis samples administered during the viral replicative cycle demonstrated the strongest activity against HCoV OC-43 replication. The influence of propolis extracts on the viability of extracellular virions was expressed to a different degree in the various viruses studied, and the effect was significantly stronger in those with an envelope. Almost all extracts significantly inhibited the adsorption step of the herpes virus and, to a less extent, of the coronavirus to the host cell, and some of them applied before viral infection demonstrated a protective effect on healthy cells. Our results enlarge the knowledge about the action of propolis and could open new perspectives for its application in viral infection treatment.

Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Activity of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Bee Bread Extracts.

Bee bread (BB) is a fermented mixture of bee pollen, is rich in proteins, amino acids, fatty acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, as well as other bioactive compounds, and is considered functional food for humans. In this study, we explored an innovative green synthesis of colloidal silver nanoparticles, using BB extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents. A preliminary chemical characterization of the BB extracts was conducted. The plasmonic response of the as-synthesized silver nanoparticles (BB-AgNPs) was evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, while their hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential were investigated by dynamic light spectroscopy (DLS). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis pointed out polydisperse NPs with quasi-spherical shapes. The newly synthesized nanoparticles showed good antioxidant activity against the tested free radicals, DPPH, ABTS•+, and FRAP, the best results being obtained in the case of ABTS•+. BB-AgNPs exhibited good antibacterial activity on the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains: herein S. aureus, B. cereus, E. faecalis, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. enteritidis, and on yeast C. albicans, respectively. The inhibition diameters varied between 7.67 ± 0.59 and 22.21 ± 1.06 mm, while the values obtained for minimum inhibitory concentration varied between 0.39 and 6.25 µg/mL. In vitro antiproliferative activity was tested on colon adenocarcinoma, ATCC HTB-37 cell line, and the results have shown that the green synthetized BB-AgNPs induced a substantial decrease in tumor cell viability in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 ranging from 24.58 to 67.91 µg/mL. Consequently, more investigation is required to comprehend the processes of the cytotoxicity of AgNPs and develop strategies to mitigate their potentially harmful effects while harnessing their antimicrobial properties.

Limited reproductive interference despite high rates of heterospecific pollen transfer among co-occurring bat-pollinated Burmeistera.

Many tropical plants are bat-pollinated, but these mammals often carry copious, multispecific pollen loads making bat-pollinated plants susceptible to heterospecific pollen deposition and reproductive interference. We investigated pollen transfer between sympatric bat-pollinated Burmeistera species and their response to heterospecific pollen deposition from each other. We quantified conspecific and heterospecific pollen deposition for two populations of B. ceratocarpa, a recipient species in heterospecific pollen transfer interactions, that co-occur with different donor relatives (B. borjensis and B. glabrata). We then used a cross-pollination scheme using pollen mixtures to assess the species' responses to heterospecific pollen deposition in terms of fruit abortion and seed production. Burmeistera ceratocarpa received significantly more heterospecific pollen from its relatives at both sites than its own pollen was deposited on its relatives. However, heterospecific pollen deposition only affected seed production by B. borjensis and B. glabrata, but not by B. ceratocarpa, suggesting that early acting post-pollination barriers buffer the latter against reproductive interference. Crosses between sympatric and allopatric populations suggest that the study species are fully isolated in sympatry, while isolation between allopatric populations is strong but incomplete. We did not observe evidence of reproductive interference among our study species, because either heterospecific pollen deposition did not affect their seed production (B. ceratocarpa) or they receive heterospecific pollen only rarely (B. borjensis and B. glabrata). Frequent heterospecific pollen deposition might favor the evolution of barriers against foreign pollen (as in B. ceratocarpa) that alleviate the competitive costs of sharing low fidelity pollinators with co-occurring species.

How mixture of plant and prey diets affects long-term rearing of predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract The phytoseiid mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is one of the well-known natural enemies across the globe which can feed on different types of pests and pollen grains. This predator was reared on the mixture of the stored products mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) (as prey diet) along with different plant pollens (as plant diet) including almond (TA), cattail (TC), castor-bean (TCb), date (TD), saffron (TS), and mixed pollens of almond, cattail, castor bean, and date (TP) for 20 generations (G1–G20). The effects of the mixed plant and prey diets on biological parameters of N. cucumeris were evaluated under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 1°C, 60 ± 5% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) h every 10 generations (G1, G10, and G20). N. cucumeris showed the highest performance on the mixed pollens + T. putrescentiae (TP diet) among the diets tested. Our findings revealed almost stable performance of the predator by long-term feeding on a mixture of pollen and prey diet and this combination can use as a suitable alternative food for mass rearing of N. cucumeris.