Colletotrichum falcatum modulates the olfactory behavior of the sugarcane borer, favoring pathogen infection

Author(s)

Franco, Flavia P. ; Tuler, Amanda C. ; Gallan, Diego Z. ; Goncalves, Felipe G. ; Favaris, Arodi P. ; Penaflor, Maria Fernanda G., V ; Leal, Walter S. ; Moura, Daniel S. ; Bento, Jose Mauricio S. ; Silva-Filho, Marcio C.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY; v. 98, n. 4, p. 8-pg., 2022-04-21.

Abstract

The sugarcane borer D. saccharalis is attracted by C. falcatum VOCs, affecting insect behavior and favoring pathogen infection. Some pathogens can manipulate their host plants and insects to optimize their fitness, increasing the attraction of insects to the infected plant in ways that facilitate pathogen acquisition. In tropical American sugarcane crops, the fungus Colletotrichum falcatum, the red rot causal agent, usually occurs in association with the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis, resulting in large losses of this crop. Considering this association, we aimed to identify the effects of C. falcatum on D. saccharalis host preference and performance as well as the effect of this insect on C. falcatum sugarcane infection. Here, we show that the fungus C. falcatum modulates D. saccharalis behavior to its own benefit. More specifically, C. falcatum-infected sugarcane plants showed a dramatic increase in VOCs, luring D. saccharalis females to lay eggs on these plants. Therefore, sugarcane infection by the fungus C. falcatum increased in cooccurrence with insect herbivory, benefiting the pathogen when associated with D. saccharalis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50871-0 - INCT 2014: National Institute of Science and Technology of Semiochemicals in Agriculture
• Grantee: José Roberto Postali Parra
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/12577-0 - Study of the molecular basis of SUGARWIN action in phytopathogenic fungi
• Grantee: Flávia Pereira Franco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 14/50275-9 - Deciphering the molecular mechanisms involved in the localization of organelar proteins as well as the complex plant-insect-pathogen interactions
• Grantee: Márcio de Castro Silva Filho
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants