Assessment of microfungal diversity near leaf-cutting ant nests using culture independent methods

• Grant number: 08/08204-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: February 01, 2009
• End date: March 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Carlos Pagnocca
• Grantee: André Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 06/58043-3 - Leaf cutting ants control, integrated studies, AP.TEM

Abstract

The aim of this proposal is to study the structure of the soil microfungal communities near leaf-cutting ant nests as well as their potential role as additional players in the attine ant-microbe symbiosis. In this sense, the project has three main questions: (i) Is the soil considered the natural reservoir of the specialized microfungal garden parasite Escovopsis sp.? (ii) Do the ants modify the surrounding microfungal soil community? (iii) Are there any unknown microbes that protect ant nests against parasites? In order to answer the first two questions, we intent to generate and compare rRNA clone libraries from soil surrounding the ant nests and control soil (i.e. soil sampled meters away from ant mound). To answer the latter question, bacteria and yeasts from ant gardens will be selected accordingly to their antagonistic nature against the dominant microfungal species present in the soil samples. Based on both culture independent and culture dependent methods, this proposal will further improve the understanding of this complex symbiosis and eventually lead to the development of alternative control methods of these pest ants. (AU)