New research from the University of Cambridge shows that bee-pollination reduces disease spread in plants and highlights the importance of environmental factors such as pollination in managing plant virus transmission.
The study, published in Virology Journal on 28 June, looked at whether insect pollination could influence the transmission of viruses from parent plants to their offspring in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).
The intricate relationship between plants and pollinators, especially bees, is essential for global ecosystems and crop productivity. This study suggests that bee-pollination is an environmentally friendly method of enhancing seed production and lowering the rate of virus-seed transmission.
Bee-pollination increases seed yield
While common bean is self-fertile, pollination by mainly hymenopteran insects like bees can significantly increase seed yield, due to the improved efficiency of pollen deposition onto the stigma.
Large pollinators like bumblebees have sufficient weight and strength to mechanically 'trip' the hull and wings of the bean flower when they are foraging on the pollen and nectar. Tripping increases the amount of pollen released.
Bee-pollination reduces seed virus transmission
The team also found that seed transmission of bean common mosaic virus was reduced when bumblebees assisted bean flowers in self-pollination. The hypothesis is that this reduction in virus transmission is due to increased competition between pollen that will favour healthy pollen grains.
About the research team
This study was undertaken by current and previous members of the Department of Plant Sciences’ Virology and Molecular Plant Pathology group. The group investigates how virus infection influences plants and their interactions with other organisms and the environment.
Reference: Mhlanga, N.M., Pate, A.E., Arinaitwe, W. et al. Reduction in vertical transmission rate of bean common mosaic virus in bee-pollinated common bean plants. 'Virol J' 21, 147 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-024-02407-w
Photo: Bumblebee visiting a flower on a common bean plant infected with bean common mosaic virus (BCMV). Photo by Alex Murphy.
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