Lack of fungal cultivar fidelity and low virulence of Escovopsis trichodermoides

Author(s)

Bizarria Jr, Rodolfo ; Nagamoto, Nilson Satoru ^[1] ; Rodrigues, Andre ^{[2, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Plant Protect, UNESP, Botucatu, SP - Brazil

^[2] Bizarria Jr, Jr., Rodolfo, Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Biochem & Microbiol, UNESP, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[3] Bizarria Jr, Jr., Rodolfo, Sao Paulo State Univ, Ctr Study Social Insects, UNESP, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Fungal Ecology; v. 45, JUN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Fungus-growing ants (the attines) are a paramount example of symbiosis, practicing fungiculture for food. Fungi in the genus Escovopsis (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) threaten the ant fungal cultivars and show patterns of specificity towards them. Escovopsis trichodermoides was described from colonies of the lower attine Mycocepurus goeldii, however, its ecological role is still unknown. Here we provide clues of the generalist nature of E. trichodermoides, with lack of fidelity to fungal cultivars from different attine ant species and low infection in ant colonies of M. goeldii. Inhibitory soluble compounds are produced by E. trichodermoides towards different fungal cultivars, as a mechanism of interference competition. Interestingly this generalist lifestyle is not a common trait of Escovopsis species, which usually show partner fidelity. Our study indicates that Escovopsis has more lifestyles than previously thought, prompting further investigations on its evolution in the attine ant-fungal symbiosis. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd and British Mycological Society. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/10631-9 - Escovopsis trichodermoides as a parasite in the lower-attine ant fungiculture
• Grantee: Rodolfo Bizarria Júnior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 17/12689-4 - Host-specificity and mechanisms of action of Escovopsis parasites found in the gardens of attine ants
• Grantee: André Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants