Metarhizium fight club: Within-host competitive exclusion and resource partitioning.

ABSTRACT: Both Metarhizium robertsii ARSEF 2575 (Mr2575) and Metarhizium anisopliae ARSEF 549 (Ma549) infect a range of insects whilst also interacting with plants; however, little is known about the traits that affect the competitive ability of different strains. We examined the interactions between Mr2575 and Ma549 in culture and during co-infection of plants (Arabidopsis thaliana) and insects. Mr2575 outcompetes Ma549 under nutrient-limiting conditions, including root exudates, giving it a priority advantage on Arabidopsis roots. However, during co-infection of Manduca sexta or Drosophila melanogaster, Ma549's higher blastospore production enhanced its competitive ability within the host. In large M. sexta (fifth instar), blastospores facilitate dispersal, suppress host melanization and prevent M

SUBMITTER: Sheng H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11542789 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature