Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory
Plants host taxonomically and functionally complex communities of microbes. However, ecological studies on plant-microbe interactions rarely address the role of multiple co-occurring plant-associated microbes. Here, we contend that plant-associated microbes interact with each other and can have join...
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2021
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ftuniaarhuspubl:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/618c4bc5-44d6-44e6-b6e8-3be7a298ea95 2024-10-06T13:51:26+00:00 Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory Laihonen, Miika Saikkonen, Kari Helander, Marjo Vázquez de Aldana, Beatriz R Zabalgogeazcoa, Iñigo Fuchs, Benjamin 2021 https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/618c4bc5-44d6-44e6-b6e8-3be7a298ea95 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.786619 eng eng https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/618c4bc5-44d6-44e6-b6e8-3be7a298ea95 info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Laihonen , M , Saikkonen , K , Helander , M , Vázquez de Aldana , B R , Zabalgogeazcoa , I & Fuchs , B 2021 , ' Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory ' , Frontiers in Microbiology , vol. 12 , pp. 786619 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.786619 article 2021 ftuniaarhuspubl https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.786619 2024-09-12T00:14:26Z Plants host taxonomically and functionally complex communities of microbes. However, ecological studies on plant-microbe interactions rarely address the role of multiple co-occurring plant-associated microbes. Here, we contend that plant-associated microbes interact with each other and can have joint consequences for higher trophic levels. In this study we recorded the occurrence of the plant seed pathogenic fungus Claviceps purpurea and aphids (Sitobion sp.) on an established field experiment with red fescue (Festuca rubra) plants symbiotic to a seed transmitted endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae (E+) or non-symbiotic (E-). Both fungi are known to produce animal-toxic alkaloids. The study was conducted in a semi-natural setting, where E+ and E- plants from different origins (Spain and Northern Finland) were planted in a randomized design in a fenced common garden at Kevo Subarctic Research Station in Northern Finland. The results reveal that 45% of E+ plants were infected with Claviceps compared to 31% of E- plants. Uninfected plants had 4.5 times more aphids than Claviceps infected plants. By contrast, aphid infestation was unaffected by Epichloë symbiosis. Claviceps alkaloid concentrations correlated with a decrease in aphid numbers, which indicates their insect deterring features. These results show that plant mutualistic fungi can increase the infection probability of a pathogenic fungus, which then becomes beneficial to the plant by controlling herbivorous insects. Our study highlights the complexity and context dependency of species-species and multi-trophic interactions, thus challenging the labeling of species as plant mutualists or pathogens. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northern Finland Subarctic Aarhus University: Research Kevo ENVELOPE(27.020,27.020,69.758,69.758) Frontiers in Microbiology 12 |
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Aarhus University: Research |
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ftuniaarhuspubl |
language |
English |
description |
Plants host taxonomically and functionally complex communities of microbes. However, ecological studies on plant-microbe interactions rarely address the role of multiple co-occurring plant-associated microbes. Here, we contend that plant-associated microbes interact with each other and can have joint consequences for higher trophic levels. In this study we recorded the occurrence of the plant seed pathogenic fungus Claviceps purpurea and aphids (Sitobion sp.) on an established field experiment with red fescue (Festuca rubra) plants symbiotic to a seed transmitted endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae (E+) or non-symbiotic (E-). Both fungi are known to produce animal-toxic alkaloids. The study was conducted in a semi-natural setting, where E+ and E- plants from different origins (Spain and Northern Finland) were planted in a randomized design in a fenced common garden at Kevo Subarctic Research Station in Northern Finland. The results reveal that 45% of E+ plants were infected with Claviceps compared to 31% of E- plants. Uninfected plants had 4.5 times more aphids than Claviceps infected plants. By contrast, aphid infestation was unaffected by Epichloë symbiosis. Claviceps alkaloid concentrations correlated with a decrease in aphid numbers, which indicates their insect deterring features. These results show that plant mutualistic fungi can increase the infection probability of a pathogenic fungus, which then becomes beneficial to the plant by controlling herbivorous insects. Our study highlights the complexity and context dependency of species-species and multi-trophic interactions, thus challenging the labeling of species as plant mutualists or pathogens. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Laihonen, Miika Saikkonen, Kari Helander, Marjo Vázquez de Aldana, Beatriz R Zabalgogeazcoa, Iñigo Fuchs, Benjamin |
spellingShingle |
Laihonen, Miika Saikkonen, Kari Helander, Marjo Vázquez de Aldana, Beatriz R Zabalgogeazcoa, Iñigo Fuchs, Benjamin Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory |
author_facet |
Laihonen, Miika Saikkonen, Kari Helander, Marjo Vázquez de Aldana, Beatriz R Zabalgogeazcoa, Iñigo Fuchs, Benjamin |
author_sort |
Laihonen, Miika |
title |
Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory |
title_short |
Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory |
title_full |
Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory |
title_fullStr |
Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory |
title_full_unstemmed |
Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory |
title_sort |
epichloë endophyte-promoted seed pathogen increases host grass resistance against insect herbivory |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/618c4bc5-44d6-44e6-b6e8-3be7a298ea95 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.786619 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(27.020,27.020,69.758,69.758) |
geographic |
Kevo |
geographic_facet |
Kevo |
genre |
Northern Finland Subarctic |
genre_facet |
Northern Finland Subarctic |
op_source |
Laihonen , M , Saikkonen , K , Helander , M , Vázquez de Aldana , B R , Zabalgogeazcoa , I & Fuchs , B 2021 , ' Epichloë Endophyte-Promoted Seed Pathogen Increases Host Grass Resistance Against Insect Herbivory ' , Frontiers in Microbiology , vol. 12 , pp. 786619 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.786619 |
op_relation |
https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/publications/618c4bc5-44d6-44e6-b6e8-3be7a298ea95 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.786619 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Microbiology |
container_volume |
12 |
_version_ |
1812179676016148480 |