IMPACT OF SELENIUM NANOPARTICLES ON FUNGI ISOLATED FROM HONEYBEE IN DIWANIYAH CITY –IRAQ

The work investigated the effects of pathogenic fungus on honeybee health. The main purpose was studying the efficiency of selenium nanoparticles in comparison with tebuconazole against these fungi. The infected honey bees’ samples were collected from various places in Diwaniyah city, the fungi being isolated and identified by laboratory methods such as culture techniques and molecular diagnosis. The study indicated that there are eight fungal species, majorly Cladosporium sp. and Aspergillus Niger, the latter having the largest proportion. The isolated fungi and their frequencies were also reported in the study. Highest isolation was recorded at Station-4 with 18 isolates (36%) followed by Station-3, which had 13 isolates (26%). Stations 3 and 5 recorded eight isolates (16%), whereas Station 2 recorded a low frequency of three isolates (6%). The results indicated that tebuconazole showed high efficiency in growth inhibition regarding most fungi in comparison with Nano-selenium. Helminthosporium sp. growth could be suppressed from 8 mm to 4 mm by nano selenium at a concentration 750 μg/ml, whereas it has been reduced to 3 mm by tebuconazole at the concentration level of 250 mg/ml. For Aspergillus niger, the growth response was consistent with 4 mm and using nano selenium even at large concentrations, while it had moved to 3 mm in tebuconazole at a concentration of 750 mg/ml. These data highlight that the different action mechanisms between agents and the need for a selection of the correct treatment in relation to the fungal species and environmental setup.