Nutritional symbionts of a putative vector, Xyleborus bispinatus , of the laurel wilt pathogen of avocado, Raffaelea lauricola

摘要: Ambrosia beetles subsist on fungal symbionts that they carry to, and cultivate in, their natal galleries. These are usually saprobes, but some phytopathogens. Very few ambrosial symbioses have been studied closely, little is known about roles phytopathogenic play in the life cycles of these beetles. One latter symbionts, Raffaelea lauricola, causes laurel wilt avocado, Persea americana, its original ambrosia beetle partner, Xyleborus glabratus, plays an uncertain role this pathosystem. We examined response a putative, alternative vector R. bispinatus, to artificial diets lauricola other fungi. Newly eclosed, unfertilized females X. bispinatus were reared no-choice assays one five different or no symbiont. developed successfully arxii, subalba subfusca, all which had previously recovered from field-collected bispinatus. However, development was observed absence symbiont another symbiont, Ambrosiella roeperi, beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus. In assays, mycangia foundress harbored significant colony-forming units of, galleries produced colonized with, respective symbionts; with each fungi, reproduction, fecundity survival positively impacted. fungus from, reproduction did not occur on, A. roeperi diets. results highlight flexible nature symbiosis, for includes it has evolutionary history. Although “primary” neotropical unclear, Asian lauricola.