Method for selecting bee colonies having the VSH trait and composition and kit for implementing same

Fecha de publicación: 13/12/2018
Fuente: WIPO "apis mellifera"
The invention concerns a method for determining if a colony of bees of the Apis mellifera species has the Varroa destructor sensitive hygiene trait (VSH). This method comprises applying, in the hive, at least one substance chosen from tricosan-2-one, pentacosan-2-one, tetracosyl acetate, heptacosan-2-one, hexacosyl acetate, nonacosan-2-one and a mixture of methyl palmitate, ethyl palmitate, methyl stearate, methyl oleate, ethyl stearate, ethyl oleate, ethyl linoleate and methyl linolenate, so as to expose the bee colony to this substance; determining a response level of the bee colony to this exposure; and comparing the response level determined in this way with a reference response level indicative of a bee colony carrying the VSH trait. This method advantageously constitutes a tool for helping select bee colonies.