Biologists found hundreds of virus species traveling on pollen grains. The results carry lessons for agriculture and even backyard beekeepers.

In the first study to take a broad look at virus hitchhikers on pollen grains, Pitt biologists show that a variety of viruses travel on pollen — especially in areas close to agriculture and human development where honeybees dominate.

«Our understanding of viruses on pollen at large was nonexistent before this study,» said Department of Biological Sciences Distinguished Professor Tia-Lynn Ashman in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences. «Most of what we know about plant viruses comes from agricultural species that are obviously sick. We just didn’t really have any idea what was out there.»

Since most prior research focused on just a small handful of viruses,the team didn’t know what to expect on their search, or even whether to expect much at all.

«That was one of our one of our questions,» Ashman said. «Do we not know much about these viruses because there aren’t many out there, or we just don’t know how to look at them?»

By sequencing the genetic material present on the pollen grains of 24 plant species across the U.S., the group found signs of many of the plant viruses already shown to travel on pollen — along with six new species, three new variants of known species and the incomplete traces of more than 200 more that have never before been identified.

Story Source:
Materials provided by University of Pittsburgh. Original written by Patrick Monahan. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.