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A fungal endophyte alters poplar leaf chemistry, deters insect feeding and shapes insect community assembly
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  • Christin Walther,
  • Marine Vallet ,
  • Michael Reichelt,
  • Prajakta Giri ,
  • Beate Rothe,
  • Pamela Medina van Berkum,
  • Jonathan Gershenzon,
  • Sybille Unsicker
Christin Walther
University of Kiel Botanical Institute and Botanical Garden
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Marine Vallet
Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena
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Michael Reichelt
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
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Prajakta Giri
Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Ecology
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Beate Rothe
Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Ecology
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Pamela Medina van Berkum
WUR
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Jonathan Gershenzon
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
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Sybille Unsicker
University of Kiel Botanical Institute and Botanical Garden

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

The endophytic fungi of certain grasses and other herbaceous plants have long been known to provide plants with anti-herbivore defense compounds, but there is little information about whether the endophytes of trees also engage in such mutualisms. We investigated the influence of the endophytic fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides on the chemical defenses of black poplar (Populus nigra) trees and the consequences for feeding preference and fitness of herbivorous insects and insect community assembly. Endophyte colonization increased both constitutive- and induced poplar defenses. Generalist Lymantria dispar larvae preferred and performed better on uninfected over endophyte-infected poplar leaves, most likely due to higher concentrations of salicinoids in endophytic leaves and the endophyte-produced alkaloid stachydrine. Under field conditions, the endophytic fungus also shapes insect community assembly in young black poplar trees. Our results show that endophytic fungi can play a major role both in defending trees against herbivorous insects and in structuring insect communities.
Submitted to Ecology Letters
12 Feb 2024Submission Checks Completed
12 Feb 2024Assigned to Editor
12 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Feb 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Mar 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
02 Jun 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Jun 20241st Revision Received
10 Jul 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
26 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Jul 20242nd Revision Received
28 Jul 2024Assigned to Editor
28 Jul 2024Submission Checks Completed
03 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Accept
23 Aug 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 Sep 20243rd Revision Received
19 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
19 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
19 Sep 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
22 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
07 Oct 20244th Revision Received
07 Oct 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Accept