Can interaction specificity in the fungus-farming termite symbiosis be explained by nutritional requirements of the fungal crop?
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Can interaction specificity in the fungus-farming termite symbiosis be explained by nutritional requirements of the fungal crop? / da Costa, Rafael R.; Vreeburg, Sabine M. E.; Shik, Jonathan Z.; Aanen, Duur K.; Poulsen, Michael.
I: Fungal Ecology, Bind 38, 2019, s. 54-61.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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T1 - Can interaction specificity in the fungus-farming termite symbiosis be explained by nutritional requirements of the fungal crop?
AU - da Costa, Rafael R.
AU - Vreeburg, Sabine M. E.
AU - Shik, Jonathan Z.
AU - Aanen, Duur K.
AU - Poulsen, Michael
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Fungus-growing termites are associated with genus-specific fungal symbionts, which they acquire via horizontal transmission. Selection of specific symbionts may be explained by the provisioning of specific, optimal cultivar growth substrates by termite farmers. We tested whether differences in in vitro performance of Termitomyces cultivars from nests of three termite species on various substrates are correlated with the interaction specificity of their hosts. We performed single-factor growth assays (varying carbon sources), and a two-factor geometric framework experiment (simultaneously varying carbohydrate and protein availability). Although we did not find qualitative differences between Termitomyces strains in carbon-source use, there were quantitative differences, which we analysed using principal component analysis. This showed that growth of Termitomyces on different carbon sources was correlated with termite host genus, rather than host species, while growth on different ratios and concentrations of protein and carbohydrate was correlated with termite host species. Our findings corroborate the interaction specificity between fungus-growing termites and Termitomyces cultivars and indicate that specificity between termite hosts and fungi is reflected both nutritionally and physiologically. However, it remains to be demonstrated whether those differences contribute to selection of specific fungal cultivars by termites at the onset of colony foundation.
AB - Fungus-growing termites are associated with genus-specific fungal symbionts, which they acquire via horizontal transmission. Selection of specific symbionts may be explained by the provisioning of specific, optimal cultivar growth substrates by termite farmers. We tested whether differences in in vitro performance of Termitomyces cultivars from nests of three termite species on various substrates are correlated with the interaction specificity of their hosts. We performed single-factor growth assays (varying carbon sources), and a two-factor geometric framework experiment (simultaneously varying carbohydrate and protein availability). Although we did not find qualitative differences between Termitomyces strains in carbon-source use, there were quantitative differences, which we analysed using principal component analysis. This showed that growth of Termitomyces on different carbon sources was correlated with termite host genus, rather than host species, while growth on different ratios and concentrations of protein and carbohydrate was correlated with termite host species. Our findings corroborate the interaction specificity between fungus-growing termites and Termitomyces cultivars and indicate that specificity between termite hosts and fungi is reflected both nutritionally and physiologically. However, it remains to be demonstrated whether those differences contribute to selection of specific fungal cultivars by termites at the onset of colony foundation.
KW - Biomass
KW - Carbohydrates
KW - Geometric framework
KW - Interaction specificity
KW - Macrotermes
KW - Nutrition
KW - Odontotermes
KW - Protein
KW - Symbiosis
KW - Termitomyces
U2 - 10.1016/j.funeco.2018.08.009
DO - 10.1016/j.funeco.2018.08.009
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85056213085
VL - 38
SP - 54
EP - 61
JO - Fungal Ecology
JF - Fungal Ecology
SN - 1754-5048
ER -
ID: 209704594