An endophyte‐rich diet increases ant predation on a specialist herbivorous insect

Hammer, Tobin J.; Bael, Sunshine A. Van

doi:10.1111/een.12186

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(64 reference statements)

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“…In the few studies conducted, entomopathogenic fungal endophytes seem to have little or no effect on insect parasitoids, offering the opportunity for the use of both in field‐based pest control programmes (Gathage et al ., ; González‐Mas et al ., ). Meanwhile, beetle feeding on leaves of a tropical vine rich in endophytes increased the possibility of predation by ants nine‐fold (Hammer & Van Bael, ). This raises the intriguing possibility that unspecialized endophytes also could be determinants of insect community structure in natural situations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meta‐analysis of the role of entomopathogenic and unspecialized fungal endophytes as plant bodyguards

et al. 2019

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Summary Herbaceous plants harbour species‐rich communities of asymptomatic endophytic fungi. Although some of these endophytes are entomopathogenic, many are not, and remarkably little is known about how the presence of these fungi in plant tissues affects phytophagous insects. Here we show through a meta‐analysis that both entomopathogenic and nonentomopathogenic endophytes have a negative effect on insect herbivores. Growth and performance of polyphagous and sucking insects are reduced by nonentomopathogenic endophytes, but monophages are unaffected, likely because the latter are better adapted to secondary metabolites produced or induced by the fungi. Furthermore, studies using excised leaves report weaker effects than those with intact plants, likely caused by chemical changes being masked by leaf excision. Most surprisingly, endophyte infection of seeds produces the greatest effect on insect herbivores in subsequent mature plants, even though the usual mode of fungal transmission is infection of leaves by airborne spores. We conclude that these ubiquitous hidden fungi may be important bodyguards of plants. However, in order to fully understand their roles in plant protection, we must be aware that minor differences in experimental design can lead to contradictory results.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meta‐analysis of the role of entomopathogenic and unspecialized fungal endophytes as plant bodyguards

et al. 2019

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“…Increasing evidence also suggests that endophytes can manipulate consumers of their host (e.g. Herre et al 2007 ; Gange et al 2012 ; Hammer and Van Bael 2015 ; Hiscox and Boddy 2017 ) supporting the hypothesis that host–endophyte interactions may be mutualistic (Schulz and Boyle 2005 ; Saikkonen et al 1998 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Both plant genotype and herbivory shape aspen endophyte communities

et al. 2018

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Salicinoid phenolic glycosides are common defence substances in salicaceous trees and specialist leaf beetles use these compounds for their own defence against predators. Salicinoids vary qualitatively and qualitatively in aspen (Populus tremula) and this variation has a genetic basis. The foliar endophyte mycobiome is plentiful and we hypothesised that it is related to plant genotype, potentially mediated by salicinoid composition, and that interactions with the leaf beetle Chrysomela tremula may alter this relationship. We studied these three-way interactions in controlled greenhouse experiments. Endophytic fungi were isolated from sterilised leaf tissues with and without beetle damage, and from beetles. We confirmed that endophyte composition was influenced by host genotype. Beetle activity added generalist morphs to the mycobiome that overrode the initial host association. Yeast-like genera (Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula) were isolated only from beetle-damaged tissues and from beetles, whereas fast-growing filamentous fungi dominated beetle-free control plants. Competition experiments between filamentous fungi of plant origin and beetle-related yeasts suggested interaction of both stimulating and inhibiting modes of action amongst the fungi. As a result, we detected examples of amensalism, commensalism, parasitism and competition between the morphs tested, but we found no evidence of mutualism, and consequently no co-evolutionary relationship could be demonstrated, between yeasts carried by beetles, host genotype and associated filamentous morphs. Endophyte studies are method-dependent and high-throughput sequencing technology best define the fungal mycobiome, culturing however continues to be a cheap way to provide fundamental ecological insights and it is also required for experimental studies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00442-018-4097-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…For example, the presence of powdery mildew (Erysiphe alphitoides) on oak leaves influences the composition of insect communities across trophic levels [183]. In Neotropical forests, foliar fungal endophytes were shown to increase the top-down control of insect herbivores by predatory ants (Azteca lacrymosa) [184]. They also modify leaf chemistry and discourage leaf-cutting ants (genera Atta and Acromyrmex).…”

Section: Tree and Insect Microbiomes Regulate Forest Insect Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trees and Insects Have Microbiomes: Consequences for Forest Health and Management

et al. 2021

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Purpose of reviewForest research has shown for a long time that microorganisms influence tree-insect interactions, but the complexity of microbial communities, as well as the holobiont nature of both trees and insect herbivores, have only recently been taken fully into account by forest entomologists and ecologists. In this article, we review recent findings on the effects of tree-insect-microbiome interactions on the health of tree individuals and discuss whether and how knowledge about tree and insect microbiomes could be integrated into forest health management strategies. We then examine the effects tree-insect-microbiome interactions on forest biodiversity and regeneration, highlighting gaps in our knowledge at the ecosystem scale. Recent findingsMultiple studies show that herbivore damage in forest ecosystems is clearly influenced by tripartite interactions between trees, insects and their microbiomes. Recent research on the plant microbiome indicates that microbiomes of planted trees could be managed at several stages of production, from seed orchards to mature forests, to improve the resistance of forest plantations to insect pests. Therefore, the tree microbiome could potentially be fully integrated into forest health management strategies.

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An endophyte‐rich diet increases ant predation on a specialist herbivorous insect

Cited by 8 publications

References 50 publications

Meta‐analysis of the role of entomopathogenic and unspecialized fungal endophytes as plant bodyguards

Meta‐analysis of the role of entomopathogenic and unspecialized fungal endophytes as plant bodyguards

Both plant genotype and herbivory shape aspen endophyte communities

Trees and Insects Have Microbiomes: Consequences for Forest Health and Management

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