THE EFFECT OF POLLEN ON THE SPORULATION OF BACILLUS LARVAE (WHITE)

Abstract
Despite ready sporulation of Bacillus larvae in its natural host, the honeybee larva, previous attempts to induce sporulation on artificial media have been relatively unsuccessful. An aqueous extract of ground pollen supported sporulation of B. larvae when added to a basal medium capable of allowing growth but little sporulation. Spores were detd. quantitatively by microscopic count and their nos. were observed to increase up to 400% with the opt. concn. (2%) of pollen. The factor(s) present in pollen responsible for the increased sporulation is soluble in ether and is heat-stable.
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