Fusarium phytopathogens as insect mutualists
Aileen Berasategui1,2,3, Shounak Jagdale1, Hassan Salem1
1Mutualisms Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany.
Plos Pathogens
|July 27, 2023
Summary
Plant pathogens in the Fusarium genus form mutualistic relationships with herbivorous insects, benefiting insect nutrition and defense. In return, the fungus gains propagation to new host plants, impacting plant health.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Plant Pathology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Herbivorous insects are key vectors for plant pathogens, influencing plant disease epidemiology.
- The impact of phytopathogens on insect vector metabolism, physiology, and fitness is often overlooked in tripartite interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the symbiotic relationships between insects and fungi of the genus Fusarium.
- To highlight the diverse roles Fusarium fungi play in their insect hosts and the benefits exchanged.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on insect-Fusarium symbioses.
- Analysis of symbiont localization and transmission routes.
- Evaluation of Fusarium's roles in insect nutrition and defense.
Main Results:
- Fusarium fungi engage in stable mutualisms with various insect clades.
- Fusarium enhances insect nutritional physiology and provides defense against natural enemies.
- Insects facilitate Fusarium propagation to new host plants.
Conclusions:
- A synergistic relationship exists between phytopathogenic Fusarium and its insect vectors.
- These interactions have significant consequences for shared plant hosts.
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