| Title: | Phenotypic responses to microbial volatiles render a mold fungus more susceptible to insect damage |
| Author(s): | Caballero Ortiz S; Trienens M; Pfohl K; Karlovsky P; Holighaus G; Rohlfs M; |
| Address: | "J.F. Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology Animal Ecology Group University of Goettingen Goettingen Germany. Present address: Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity University of Muenster Muenster Germany. Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research University of Goettingen Goettingen Germany. Forest Zoology and Forest Conservation University of Goettingen Goettingen Germany. Institute of Ecology, Population and Evolutionary Ecology Group University of Bremen Bremen Germany" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2045-7758 (Print) 2045-7758 (Electronic) 2045-7758 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "In decomposer systems, fungi show diverse phenotypic responses to volatile organic compounds of microbial origin (volatiles). The mechanisms underlying such responses and their consequences for the performance and ecological success of fungi in a multitrophic community context have rarely been tested explicitly. We used a laboratory-based approach in which we investigated a tripartite yeast-mold-insect model decomposer system to understand the possible influence of yeast-borne volatiles on the ability of a chemically defended mold fungus to resist insect damage. The volatile-exposed mold phenotype (1) did not exhibit protein kinase A-dependent morphological differentiation, (2) was more susceptible to insect foraging activity, and (3) had reduced insecticidal properties. Additionally, the volatile-exposed phenotype was strongly impaired in secondary metabolite formation and unable to activate 'chemical defense' genes upon insect damage. These results suggest that volatiles can be ecologically important factors that affect the chemical-based combative abilities of fungi against insect antagonists and, consequently, the structure and dynamics of decomposer communities" |
| Keywords: | chemical interference insect-fungus interactions microbial ecology multispecies interactions secondary metabolites volatile organic compounds; |
| Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINECaballero Ortiz, Silvia Trienens, Monika Pfohl, Katharina Karlovsky, Petr Holighaus, Gerrit Rohlfs, Marko eng England 2018/05/04 Ecol Evol. 2018 Apr 2; 8(8):4328-4339. doi: 10.1002/ece3.3978. eCollection 2018 Apr" |
