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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Unraveling Trichoderma species in the attine ant environment: description of three new taxa

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Author(s):
Montoya, Quimi Vidaurre [1] ; Meirelles, Lucas Andrade [1, 2] ; Chaverri, Priscila [3, 4] ; Rodrigues, Andre [1]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] UNESP Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Biochem & Microbiol, Ave 24-A, 1515 Bela Vista, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil
[2] CALTECH, Div Biol & Biol Engn, Pasadena, CA 91125 - USA
[3] Univ Maryland, Dept Plant Sci & Landscape Architecture, 2112 Plant Sci Bldg, College Pk, MD 20742 - USA
[4] Univ Costa Rica, Escuela Biol, San Jose 115012060 - Costa Rica
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: ANTONIE VAN LEEUWENHOEK INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL AND MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY; v. 109, n. 5, p. 633-651, MAY 2016.
Web of Science Citations: 13
Abstract

Fungus-growing ``attine{''} ants forage diverse substrates to grow fungi for food. In addition to the mutualistic fungal partner, the colonies of these insects harbor a rich microbiome composed of bacteria, filamentous fungi and yeasts. Previous work reported some Trichoderma species in the fungus gardens of leafcutter ants. However, no studies systematically addressed the putative association of Trichoderma with attine ants, especially in non-leafcutter ants. Here, a total of 62 strains of Trichoderma were analyzed using three molecular markers (ITS, tef1 and rpb2). In addition, 30 out of 62 strains were also morphologically examined. The strains studied correspond to the largest sampling carried out so far for Trichoderma in the attine ant environment. Our results revealed the richness of Trichoderma in this environment, since we found 20 Trichoderma species, including three new taxa described in the present work (Trichoderma attinorum, Trichoderma texanum and Trichoderma longifialidicum spp. nov.) as well as a new phylogenetic taxon (LESF 545). Moreover, we show that all 62 strains grouped within different clades across the Trichoderma phylogeny, which are identical or closely related to strains derived from several other environments. This evidence supports the transient nature of the genus Trichoderma in the attine ant colonies. The discovery of three new species suggests that the dynamic foraging behavior of these insects might be responsible for accumulation of transient fungi into their colonies, which might hold additional fungal taxa still unknown to science. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 11/16765-0 - DNA barcoding and biotechnological potential of microfungi associated with leaf-cutting ants
Grantee:André Rodrigues
Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants