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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in microbiology 2022-01, Vol.12, p.786619-786619
Main Authors: Laihonen, Miika, Saikkonen, Kari, Helander, Marjo, Vázquez de Aldana, Beatriz R, Zabalgogeazcoa, Iñigo, Fuchs, Benjamin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aphid
Claviceps
fungal endophyte
herbivory
Microbiology
mutualism
symbiosis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary: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 and aphids ( sp.) on an established field experiment with red fescue ( ) plants symbiotic to a seed transmitted endophytic fungus (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 compared to 31% of E- plants. Uninfected plants had 4.5 times more aphids than infected plants. By contrast, aphid infestation was unaffected by symbiosis. 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.
ISSN:1664-302X
1664-302X
DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2021.786619