The phenomenon of endophytic insect-pathogenic fungi: Origin, evolution, ecology
Federal Scientific Center for Biological Plant Protection
Kalinina, 62, Krasnodar, 350065 Russia
*E-mail: fridaAmely@yandex.ru
EIPF (Endophytic Insect-Pathogenic Fungi) is an ecologically flexible group of hypocrealean and some other fungi, capable of combining varied lifestyles: free-living saprotrophic, endophytic in plants and pathogenic in insects. For EIPFs, inhabiting insects is temporary and results in the death of their hosts, but they can also form relatively long-term, mutually beneficial consortia with plants. Transition from insects to plants or from plants to insects typically occurs not through direct contact, but after a free-living period in soil or other environment. Penetration of EIPF conidia through the plant and insect cuticles is accomplished through similar pathways, involving similar adhesin molecules. Host plants protect endophytic fungi from environmental factors and provide a source of carbon nutrition. EIPFs in turn can suppress phytophages and phytopathogens and stimulate host plant growth and immunity. Nitrogen transfer from dead insects to plants via EIPFs has been proven, representing a unique branch of the nitrogen cycle in nature.
