Realidades Sociais, Cognição e Linguagem

Abstract

We consider how fungi that form symbiotic associations with plantsinteract with Insect herbivores attacking the same plants. Both endophytesand mycorrhizae have significant impacts oil herbivores with whichthey are in relatively intimate contact, but weaker effects on thosefrom which they are spatially separated. Generalist insects are usually,adversely affected by the presence of endophytes and mycorrhizae,whereas specialist insects may often benefit. Effects on feedingguilds vary according to type of fungi, for example, aphids are oftennegatively affected by endophytes but respond positively to mycorrhizae,and leaf-chewers are usually negatively affected by both types offungi. There is a strong taxonomic bias in the literature and manyinteractions remain little studied; laboratory Studies predominateover field studies. Although some patterns emerge, there is a largeamount of specificity and context dependency in the outcome of interactions,reflecting the influence of fungal and host genotype, fungal, host,and insect species, and environmental factors. Whereas some of themechanisms underpinning these interactions are relatively well characterized,others remain unclear and await elucidation by molecular and metabolomictechniques.