Meta-analysis of the role of entomopathogenic and unspecialized fungal endophytes as plant bodyguards.

ABSTRACT: Herbaceous plants harbour species-rich communities of asymptomatic endophytic fungi. Although some of these endophytes are entomopathogenic, many are not, and remarkably little is known about how the presence of these fungi in plant tissues affects phytophagous insects. Here we show through a meta-analysis that both entomopathogenic and nonentomopathogenic endophytes have a negative effect on insect herbivores. Growth and performance of polyphagous and sucking insects are reduced by nonentomopathogenic endophytes, but monophages are unaffected, likely because the latter are better adapted to secondary metabolites produced or induced by the fungi. Furthermore, studies using excised leaves report weaker effects than those with intact plants, likely caused by chemical changes being masked by

SUBMITTER: Gange AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6766880 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature