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Fallopia japonica (FJ), commonly known as Japanese knotweed, is now recognized as one of the most invasive plants in Europe and globally. Despite its widespread presence in Europe and its significant nectar production, there is currently limited scientific data on the unique unifloral honey derived from it. This study examines the physicochemical composition of Fallopia japonica honey (FJH) samples collected from various regions in Romania. Additionally, the nutritional and antioxidant profiles of FJH were assessed. The sensory analysis revealed a honey with a brown-caramel color and an intense flavor, characterized by fine, consistent crystals during crystallization. The results indicated that FJH has a high carbohydrate content (fructose: 35.12–40.65 g/100 g; glucose: 28.06–37.79 g/100 g); elevated electrical conductivity (387–692 µS/cm), diastase activity (9.11–17.01 DN), and acidity (21.61–42.89 meq/kg); and substantial total phenolic (89.87–120.08 mg/100 g) and flavonoid (18.13–39.38 mg/g) contents. These findings highlight FJH's favorable nutritional properties, aligning with the standard codex for honey. The antioxidant profile of FJH demonstrated strong DPPH and ferric reduction antioxidant power (FRAP) activities, comparable to those of buckwheat honey, underscoring its potential health benefits and commercial value. These results provide new insights into how this invasive plant can be harnessed as a valuable resource for sustainable beekeeping practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the suitability of three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains—Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Apilactobacillus kunkeei—for use as probiotics in apiculture. Given the decline in bee populations due to pathogens and environmental stressors, sustainable alternatives to conventional treatments are necessary. This study aimed to assess the potential of these LAB strains in a probiotic formulation for bees through various in vitro tests, including co-culture interactions, biofilm formation, auto-aggregation, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and resistance to high osmotic concentrations. This study aimed to assess both the individual effects of the strains and their combined effects, referred to as the LAB mix. Results indicated no mutual antagonistic activity among the LAB strains, demonstrating their compatibility with multi-strain probiotic formulations. The LAB strains showed significant survival rates under high osmotic stress and simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The LAB mix displayed enhanced biofilm formation, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial efficacy against different bacterial strains. These findings suggest that a probiotic formulation containing these LAB strains could be used for a probiotic formulation, offering a promising approach to mitigating the negative effects of pathogens. Future research should focus on in vivo studies to validate the efficacy of these probiotic bacteria in improving bee health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lately, there have been increasing efforts to stimulate the strategic role of the bees in biodiversity protection, in agriculture & horticulture. European Union (EU) has invested in the beekeeping sector in the last years by funding Farm to Fork strategy. The aim of this strategy is to protect them and preserve their contribution in sustainable environmental models. Biodiversity is decreasing by using intensive agriculture, chimization and automatization and consequently a decline in ecosystem services in many parts of the world, most representatives being pollination. Over the past three decades, there was an increasing in atmospheric temperature. Because of changes in plant flowering times patterns, the interaction between pollinators and their food sources is also affected. The challenges facing bee health have multiple sources, including poor nutrition due to less nectar source, heat stress resulting from global warming, agrochemicals used in agriculture, and pathogens becoming increasingly resistant to conventional treatments. However, thermal stress can negatively affect hive activity, which can affect foraging activity, immunocompetence, reproductive capacity, and the growth and development of bees. This, in turn, will affect pollination services and hive production overall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor devastates honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies around the world. Entering a brood cell shortly before capping, the Varroa mother feeds on the honey bee larvae. The hormones 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH), acquired from the host, have been considered to play a key role in initiating Varroa's reproductive cycle. This study focuses on differential expression of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of JH and ecdysone at six time points during the first 30 hr after cell capping in both drone and worker larvae of A. mellifera. This time frame, covering the conclusion of the honey bee brood cell invasion and the start of Varroa's ovogenesis, is critical to the successful initiation of a reproductive cycle. Our findings support a later activation of the ecdysteroid cascade in honey bee drones compared to worker larvae, which could account for the increased egg production of Varroa in A. mellifera drone cells. The JH pathway was generally downregulated confirming its activity is antagonistic to the ecdysteroid pathway during the larva development. Nevertheless, the genes involved in JH synthesis revealed an increased expression in drones. The upregulation of jhamt gene involved in methyl farnesoate (MF) synthesis came into attention since the MF is not only a precursor of JH but it is also an insect pheromone in its own right as well as JH‐like hormone in Acari. This could indicate a possible kairomone effect of MF for attracting the mites into the drone brood cells, along with its potential involvement in ovogenesis after the cell capping, stimulating Varroa's initiation of egg laying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to present the microscopic techniques used in botanical origin determination of honey samples, shortly melissopalynology. This technique is used for microscopic examination of pollen grains to determine the botanical origin of honey. It is known that a certain number of pollen grains must be recovered from sediment of honey solution, and the presence of small amounts of pollen may be related to falsification. Identification of pollen structure is generally made using light microscopy; phase contrast microscopy may be also used. Fluorescence microscopy is also a powerful method in palynology. Confocal laser scanning microscopy is effective in revealing the ultrastructure of pollen outer layer and shape of the pollen. The determination of the botanical origin of honey using palynology is based on the relative frequency of the pollen belonging to nectariferous plants. Honey is considered monofloral if the pollen from the sediment comes predominantly from a named botanical origin and overpasses 45% from the total count of pollen grains counted on the microscopic slide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few years, the honeybees faced a significant decline worldwide. Despite many biotic and abiotic stressors, one of the leading causes of honeybee colony loses is Varroa destructor, followed by Nosema spp.. Given the importance of honeybee in agriculture and a significantly increased resistance to treatments identified in Varroa destructor, a more sustainable method to counter this mite is needed. One of these sustainable methods is breeding for resistance to Varroa destructor. Due to the rising number of honeybee populations with potential resistance to Varroa destructor, a new promising breeding plan for natural selection was proposed. This breeding plan was adapted and implemented on a local population of honey bees in Transilvania, with the primary objective of obtaining resistant colonies to Varroa destructor. Development of these colonies was observed, and analysis of Varroa infestation level and Nosema spp. was performed to assess the health status of the population or the cause of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: One of the most powerful gene editing approaches is the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) tool. The silkworm (Bombyx mori) has a great impact on the global economy, playing a pivotal role in the sericulture industry. However, B. mori came into the spotlight by representing one of science's greatest contributors, being used to establish extraordinary bioreactors for the production of target proteins and illustrating a great experimental model organism. Herein, we focus on progress made in the field of B. mori's genome manipulation by using CRISPR-Cas. In order to edit B. mori's genome, remarkable advances were made, such as exposing gene functions and developing mutant lines that exhibit enhanced resistance against B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV). We also discuss how CRISPR-Cas accelerated the fundamental investigation in B. mori, and beyond, thus highlighting the great potential of the insect's biotechnology in numerous scientific fields. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) represents a powerful genome editing technology that revolutionized in a short period of time numerous natural sciences branches. Therefore, extraordinary progress was made in various fields, such as entomology or biotechnology. Bombyx mori is one of the most important insects, not only for the sericulture industry, but for numerous scientific areas. The silkworms play a key role as a model organism, but also as a bioreactor for the recombinant protein production. Nowadays, the CRISPR-Cas genome editing system is frequently used in order to perform gene analyses, to increase the resistance against certain pathogens or as an imaging tool in B. mori. Here, we provide an overview of various studies that made use of CRISPR-Cas for B. mori genome editing, with a focus on emphasizing the high applicability of this system in entomology and biological sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parasitic mite Varroa destructor devastates honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) colonies around the world. Entering a brood cell shortly before capping, the Varroa mother feeds on the honey bee larvae. The hormones 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH), acquired from the host, have been considered to play a key role in initiating Varroa's reproductive cycle. This study focuses on differential expression of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of JH and ecdysone at six time points during the first 30 hr after cell capping in both drone and worker larvae of A. mellifera . This time frame, covering the conclusion of the honey bee brood cell invasion and the start of Varroa's ovogenesis, is critical to the successful initiation of a reproductive cycle. Our findings support a later activation of the ecdysteroid cascade in honey bee drones compared to worker larvae, which could account for the increased egg production of Varroa in A. mellifera drone cells. The JH pathway was generally downregulated confirming its activity is antagonistic to the ecdysteroid pathway during the larva development. Nevertheless, the genes involved in JH synthesis revealed an increased expression in drones. The upregulation of jhamt gene involved in methyl farnesoate (MF) synthesis came into attention since the MF is not only a precursor of JH but it is also an insect pheromone in its own right as well as JH-like hormone in Acari. This could indicate a possible kairomone effect of MF for attracting the mites into the drone brood cells, along with its potential involvement in ovogenesis after the cell capping, stimulating Varroa's initiation of egg laying., Competing Interests: None declared., (© 2020 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)