Suitability of culture media for the production of ascospores and maintenance of Ascosphaera apis

SUMMARY

Various preparations of culture media were used to study their suitability for the production of ascospores and the maintenance of two sexually compatible local isolates of putative Ascosphaera apis (causative agent of chalkbrood) obtained from white honey bee mummies. Morphometric analysis and characterization of the isolates showed that the local isolates were A. apis. Malt yeast with 20% dextrose agar (MY20) was the most suitable medium for ascospore production. Based on mycelium aging, integral rice kernel (IRK) medium was the best for the maintenance of A. apis isolates. Spore-cyst size was the main morphometric feature affected by culture medium. IRK medium induced the development of larger spore cysts.

Keywords:

• chalkbrood
• Ascosphaera apis
• honey bees
• Apis mellifera
• culture media
• ascospores
• spore cysts