Abstract
Facing the urgent need to reduce the input of agrochemicals, in recent years, the ecological relationships between plants and their associated microorganisms have been increasingly considered as an essential tool for improving crop production. New findings and data have been accumulated showing that the application of fungi can go beyond the specific role that has been traditionally assigned to the species, employed in integrated pest management as entomopathogens or mycoparasites, and that strains combining both aptitudes can be identified and possibly used as multipurpose biocontrol agents. Mainly considered for their antagonistic relationships with plant pathogenic fungi, species in the genus Talaromyces have been more and more widely reported as insect associates in investigations carried out in various agricultural and non-agricultural contexts. Out of a total of over 170 species currently accepted in this genus, so far, 27 have been found to have an association with insects from 9 orders, with an evident increasing trend. The nature of their mutualistic and antagonistic relationships with insects, and their ability to synthesize bioactive compounds possibly involved in the expression of the latter kind of interactions, are analyzed in this paper with reference to the ecological impact and applicative perspectives in crop protection.
Highlights
The role of fungi in the contrasting biological adversities of plants has been considered with reference to their assignment to functional categories, such as ‘mycoparasites’, ‘entomopathogens’, ‘nematophagous fungi’, etc
Current evidence concerning the capacity of Talaromyces, another Ascomycetes genus including several species reported as antagonists of plant pathogens [7,8,9], to directly interact with insects is examined in this paper in view of a more comprehensive consideration of their role in crop protection and possible applications in the biocontrol of these key pests
Other findings are seemingly occasional and do not represent indications of possible functional relevance. This is the case of two Egyptian reports concerning T. funiculosus from dead larvae and pupae of the vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae) (Diptera, Agromyzidae) [26] and T. pinophilus from an unspecified stage of the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) [30], as well as of Talaromyces sp. from an unidentified mud dauber wasp in Australia [42], Talaromyces versatilis from dead individuals of the giant honey bee (Apis dorsata) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in Sri Lanka [52] and T. variabilis from adults of Diabrotica sp. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) and Neomyopites sp. (Diptera, Tephritidae) collected on the subshrub Espeletia pycnophylla in Colombia [55]
Summary
The role of fungi in the contrasting biological adversities of plants has been considered with reference to their assignment to functional categories, such as ‘mycoparasites’, ‘entomopathogens’, ‘nematophagous fungi’, etc. A functional role based on cellulolytic properties could be implicated in the association of Talaromyces spp. with xylicolous Coleoptera This is the case of Talaromyces pulveris, which has been very recently described based on an isolate from bore dust of the deathwatch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum, Anobiidae) in France [32], while other findings concern the gut of the ribbed pine borer (Rhagium inquisitor, Cerambycidae) collected in Tatarstan (Russia) [43] and of the ambrosia/bark beetles (Curculionidae, Platypodinae and Scolytinae). Other findings are seemingly occasional and do not represent indications of possible functional relevance This is the case of two Egyptian reports concerning T. funiculosus from dead larvae and pupae of the vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae) (Diptera, Agromyzidae) [26] and T. pinophilus from an unspecified stage of the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) [30], as well as of Talaromyces sp. Flavus was reported from mines of the long-legged flies Thrypticus truncatus and Thrypticus sagittatus (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) on water hyacinth (E. crassipes) in Argentina [20]
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