Interactions among Escovopsis, Antagonistic Microfungi Associated with the Fungus-Growing Ant Symbiosis.

ABSTRACT: Fungi in the genus Escovopsis (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) are prevalent associates of the complex symbiosis between fungus-growing ants (Tribe Attini), the ants' cultivated basidiomycete fungi and a consortium of both beneficial and harmful microbes found within the ants' garden communities. Some Escovopsis spp. have been shown to attack the ants' cultivated fungi, and co-infections by multiple Escovopsis spp. are common in gardens in nature. Yet, little is known about how Escovopsis strains impact each other. Since microbe-microbe interactions play a central role in microbial ecology and evolution, we conducted experiments to assay the types of interactions that govern Escovopsis-Escovopsis relationships. We isolated Escovopsis strains from t

SUBMITTER: Christopher Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8703566 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature