Colony Nutrition Enhances Bee Resilience to Fungicides, While the Benefit of Propolis Supplementation Depends on Stress Conditions

Yara Martins Molina Ferraz, Aline Yukari Kato, Tainá Angelica de Lima Freitas, Cássia Regina de Avelar Gomes, Thais Regina Ramos Alves, Matheus Franco Trivellato, Samir Moura Kadri, Ricardo de Oliveira Orsi, David De Jong, Jaqueline Dalbello Biller and Daniel Nicodemo ()
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Yara Martins Molina Ferraz: Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Aline Yukari Kato: Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Tainá Angelica de Lima Freitas: Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Cássia Regina de Avelar Gomes: Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Thais Regina Ramos Alves: Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Matheus Franco Trivellato: Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Samir Moura Kadri: Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural and Technology Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Dracena 17915-899, SP, Brazil
Ricardo de Oliveira Orsi: Department of Animal Production and Medicine Veterinary Preventive, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
David De Jong: Genetics Department, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
Jaqueline Dalbello Biller: Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural and Technology Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Dracena 17915-899, SP, Brazil
Daniel Nicodemo: Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-20

Abstract: Enhanced colony nutrition can support brood development, resulting in better physiological conditions and increased resilience in adult honey bees, particularly under stress. This study investigated the effects of colony nutrition and adult dietary supplementation with green propolis on bee health under fungicide exposure. Colonies were managed under food restriction or nutritional supplementation for 22 weeks. Newly emerged bees from each colony were then caged and fed protein diets consisting of honey-pollen patties contaminated or not with fungicide, and sucrose sugar syrup with or without aqueous green propolis extract. Bees from supplemented colonies showed greater body weight, higher hemolymph protein levels, and higher consumption of protein food after seven days in cages. Fungicide exposure reduced hemolymph protein levels, altered the expression of detoxification and immune-related genes, and significantly decreased bee survival. Interestingly, propolis supplementation alone changed gene expression patterns and slightly reduced longevity compared to bees not exposed to propolis or fungicide. However, under fungicide stress, bees that ingested propolis survived longer, indicating a protective effect. While colony nutritional supplementation clearly promotes honey bee resilience against fungicide exposure, feeding propolis also showed promising effects, though further studies are needed to determine an optimal dietary concentration.

Keywords: hemolymph proteins; detoxification genes; immune response; larval nutrition; oxidative stress; pesticide exposure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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