Sugarcane multitrophic interactions: Integrating belowground and aboveground organisms

Abstract

Sugarcane is a crop of major importance used mainly for sugar and biofuel production, and many additional applications of its byproducts are being developed. Sugarcane cultivation is plagued by many insect pests and pathogens that reduce sugarcane yields overall. Recently emerging studies have shown complex multitrophic interactions in cultivated areas, such as the induction of sugarcane defense-related proteins by insect herbivory that function against fungal pathogens that commonly appear after mechanical damage. Fungi and viruses infecting sugarcane also modulate insect behavior, for example, by causing changes in volatile compounds responsible for insect attraction or repelling natural vector enemies via a mechanism that increases pathogen dissemination from infected plants to healthy ones. Interestingly, the fungus Fusarium verticillioides is capable of being vertically transmitted to insect offspring, ensuring its persistence in the field. Understanding multitrophic complexes is important to develop better strategies for controlling pathosystems affecting sugarcane and other important crops and highlights the importance of not only studying binary interactions but also adding as many variables as possible to effectively translate laboratory research to real-life conditions.

The Phytopathogen Fusarium verticillioides Modifies the Intestinal Morphology of the Sugarcane Borer

“…Here, we identified the probable place of “dwelling” of the fungus F. verticillioides in its host, a primordial place for the symbiont organisms to be successful in their perpetuation [ 44 ]. It has already been shown that this interaction brings benefits to both organisms [ 45 ], with no harm to either being identified [ 5 , 10 ], and this installation site proves to be efficient, since it is rich in nutrients and offers the potential for dissemination; thus, it is chosen by several organisms in symbiotic relationships [ 28 , 29 , 44 , 46 ].…”

“…Interactions involving plant–insect pathogens are influenced by many shared complex evolutionary properties, effects of external organisms, environmental conditions, defense genes and effectors, the understanding of which can support the discovery of new mechanisms and strategies for the management of insect pests in a wide range of agroecosystems [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Due to the high complexity, most studies on plant interactions with pathogens and herbivore insects have been focused on binary interactions; however, a holistic view of multiple interactions has gained more attention because of the direct or indirect effects of one organism on the other [ 5 ]. Although studies of interactions are highly complex and recent, it has already become possible to identify many insect–microorganism associations [ 6 ], as in the case of observations of the absorption of nutrients from the host [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…In Brazil, infection by the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis is usually associated with the fungal pathogens Fusarium verticillioides and Colletotrichum falcatum , which form the borer-rot complex [ 5 , 34 , 35 ]. Due to the complex interaction between F. verticillioides and D. saccharalis, we aimed to investigate whether F. verticillioides might alter the structure of insect intestines.…”

Produtos ecológicos para a Indústria da Construção Civil

“…está presente em 121 países, ocupando uma área aproximada de 24 milhões de hectares, e é responsável pelo fornecimento de coprodutos como o açúcar, o etanol e a bioeletricidade. É caracterizada por ser uma cultura semi perene adaptada para as áreas tropicais e subtropicais, cuja importância econômica a torna fundamental para a economia das localidades em que é cultivada [15][16] [17][18] [19].…”