Efficacy of apple vinegar and water-soluble propolis in inhibiting chalk brood in laboratory

كفاءة خل التفاح والعكبر الحلول بالماء في تثبيط فطر تكلس حضنة النحل مخبرياً

Abstract

Ascosphaera apis is the causal agent of chalk brood disease infecting honey bee brood. A laboratory experiment has been carried out at General Commission for scientific Agricultural Research to evaluate the efficacy of apple vinegar and water-soluble propolis at concentrations of 1, 2.5 and 5% to inhibit the growth of A. apis in petri dish. Results showed that the use of apple vinegar in all concentrations inhibited the growth of A. apis in similar ratios 47.9, 50.1 and 54.7% respectively with no significant differences between concentrations. In case of propolis, there was no effect of 1% concentrations on fungus growth where 5% conc. showed high inhibition reached to 70.12%. It is obvious from the above that the use of some natural products like apple vinegar and water-soluble propolis with sugar feeding and protein additives (candy) in hives preparation period for winter and the beginning of spring raises the resistance of honeybee to different diseases.