National Agricultural Genotyping Center Tests Work to Save the Honey Bees and Crops
In partnership with: North Dakota Department of Agriculture
In the ever-evolving landscape of agriculture and apiculture, staying ahead of emerging threats is paramount, and the National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC) in Fargo, North Dakota, stands at the forefront of that mission.
The Fargo-based nonprofit laboratory continuously expands its testing menu to meet the diverse needs of farmers, Extension agents and U.S. Department of Agriculture professionals, says Zack Bateson, NAGC research manager.
In 2023, the center introduced a groundbreaking test for the Tropilaelaps (Tropi) mite, an emerging menace to honey bee colonies. It also unveiled the new CropFiler tests to safeguard the integrity of a greater number of crop varieties.
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Save the Honey Bees
At the heart of NAGC’s new services is the TLC test for detecting Tropi mites in honey bee colonies, a major pest in Asia that is yet to be detected in the U.S.
NAGC’s test is a preemptive diagnostic tool developed in collaborative conversation with North Dakota commercial beekeepers and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture to help save the honey bees.
“All NAGC diagnostic tests use PCR (polymerase chain reaction), a familiar acronym as it is the same technology for detecting the virus that causes COVID-19,” Bateson says.
Using the PCR technology, the TLC test co-detects three pests, including the elusive mite.
“The test offers a rapid and accurate means of identifying mite DNA in hive debris, comb and other nonliving samples,” Bateson says. “This saves time and enhances the sensitivity of detection, crucial for assessing possible exposure even when mites are at low levels within colonies.”
When they are at such low levels, visual evidence is nearly undetectable, says Samantha Brunner, apiary inspector for NDDA who assisted with the test development.
“Tropi is following a similar spread as Varroa destructor followed prior to its arrival in North America in the 1980s, but this mite is smaller and moves faster than the Varroa mite,” she says. “New detection methods, like the test the NAGC developed, are needed for early detection and possible eradication.”
Varroa is typically considered the industry’s top threat, but unchecked, Tropi might surpass it in colony loss and virus transmission rates, Bateson explains. The Tropi mite, like the larger Varroa, feeds on honey bee brood – the next generation of workers – leading to rapid brood failure and transmission of pathogens.
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Crop Fingerprinting
NAGC also uses PCR technology to offer CropFiler tests to genetically confirm that seed lots match their variety designation. The lab currently focuses on wheat, barley and field pea, but by the end of 2024, it expects to expand offerings to include durum and chickpea.
Developed in collaboration with the North Dakota State Seed Department, these tests reveal the unique genetic fingerprint for each crop variety. This aids in protecting the purity of seed lots and ensures farmers receive the expected variety with its specific qualities that help maximize yield, Bateson says.
“Variety identification is challenging when relying only on visual characteristics during field inspections,” he says. “Plus, it takes a decade or more to create a new variety, so these long-term investments deserve efforts to protect their purity within the market.”
The genetic tests to confirm crop varieties are important because varieties differ in disease resistance, maturity rate, shelf life and even consumer preferences.
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Partners in Ag
The laboratory processed more than 9,000 total samples in 2023. The shared foundation for all the tests lies in the search for information within the code of life: DNA or RNA.
“Whether addressing the health of honey bees or the genetic integrity of crops, our molecular diagnostics serve as a versatile multitool to answer a broad range of agricultural questions,” Bateson says.
For Brunner, the collaboration with NAGC has revolutionized her ability to identify and manage honey bee colony issues.
“The rapid turnaround time, extensive range of pests identified and cost-effective solutions have made NAGC an indispensable partner,” she says.
To learn more about the research and work happening at the National Agricultural Genotyping Center, visit genotypingcenter.com. To learn more about the important role honey bees and beekeepers play in North Dakota click here.
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