Volume: 2, 2023
2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: P021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.P021
Published online: 19 April 2023
ICDSUPL, 2, P021 (2023)
Three-way interaction: severity of grass fungal infection affects fly reproduction
Krzysztof Stawrakakis1*
1 Departament of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, Poznań, Poland
* Corresponding author: krzysztof.stawrakakis@amu.edu.pl
Abstract
Endophytic fungi of genus Epichloë play a key role as a node in a network of biotic interactions on a multi-level scale. They impact life-history traits of other elements of this network. It is particularly prominent in hostplants, their herbivores and stromata mycophages, including vectors of Epichloë spores. Epichloë fungi utilize multiple ways of reproduction and dispersion. Those mechanisms are evolutionary tradeoffs. Therefore, what is the main investment success of Epichloë, based on the principle of resource allocation? Here the costs and benefits of endophytic fungi will be presented, using an example of Botanophila sp. fly – Epichloë interaction. The presented mechanisms regard the basic processes: (1) reproduction, (2) nutrition, (3) growth. The dynamics of this interaction, depending on the available resources, varies in time. The interaction of Botanophila sp.-Epichloë sp. is an internode in which the relationship is one-sidedly obligatory. It is dependent on the course of the basal fungal-symbiote and hostplant interaction. This is evidenced by three-year field research. It involved the observation of the population of wild grass Holcus lanatus infected with Epichloë sp., on which the Botanophila sp. did forage. An increase in the number of shoots with stromata and a reduction in stromata size were observed. From one year to another, flies deposited fewer eggs on these stromata, and larval body mass decreased as well. These results can be explained by the deterioration of grass conditions due to the increase in Epichloë infection, which resulted in higher maintenance costs of this fungal parasite.
How to cite
K. Stawrakakis, 2023. Three-way interaction: severity of grass fungal infection affects fly reproduction. In: 2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.P021