Study of the interaction between sugar cane, D. saccharalis, C. falcatum and F. verticillioides

• Grant number: 17/08026-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Márcio de Castro Silva Filho
• Grantee: Diego Zanardo Gallan
• Home Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/50275-9 - Deciphering the molecular mechanisms involved in the localization of organelar proteins as well as the complex plant-insect-pathogen interactions, AP.BIOEN.TEM

Abstract

In sugarcane, the stalk colonization by opportunistic fungi, such as Fusarium verticillioides and Colletotrichum falcatum, is directly linked to the attack of sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis. Previous works have identified that sugarcane defense proteins induced by D. saccharalis can affect the fungus F. verticillioides and C. falcatum, indicating an important association between insect and opportunists fungi. Moreover, D. saccharalis stimulate C. falcatum infection on sugarcane and both the fungus, F. verticillioides and C. falcatum, can attract and simulate D. saccharalis caterpillars feeding due to the emission of organic volatile compounds. These data direct the present work to a better understanding of this interaction, which may be linked to a mutual coexistence between organisms. Therefore, the goal of this study is to investigate the interaction between opportunistic fungi and caterpillar in sugarcane, evaluating: 1) If the mechanism of infection by C. falcatum and F. verticillioides is mediated by D. saccharalis; and 2) The influence of these opportunistic fungi in the development of D. saccharalis. (AU)