scholarly journals Erratum for Francoeur et al., “Bacteria Contribute to Plant Secondary Compound Degradation in a Generalist Herbivore System”

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte B. Francoeur ◽  
Lily Khadempour ◽  
Rolando D. Moreira-Soto ◽  
Kirsten Gotting ◽  
Adam J. Book ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Generalist Herbivore ◽  
Secondary Compound ◽  
Plant Secondary Compound

scholarly journals Bacteria Contribute to Plant Secondary Compound Degradation in a Generalist Herbivore System

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte B. Francoeur ◽  
Lily Khadempour ◽  
Rolando D. Moreira-Soto ◽  
Kirsten Gotting ◽  
Adam J. Book ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Community ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Secondary Compounds ◽  
Fungus Garden ◽  
Plant Secondary Compounds ◽  
Generalist Herbivore ◽  
Secondary Compound ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Plant Secondary Compound ◽  
Microbial Symbionts

ABSTRACT Herbivores must overcome a variety of plant defenses, including coping with plant secondary compounds (PSCs). To help detoxify these defensive chemicals, several insect herbivores are known to harbor gut microbiota with the metabolic capacity to degrade PSCs. Leaf-cutter ants are generalist herbivores, obtaining sustenance from specialized fungus gardens that act as external digestive systems and which degrade the diverse collection of plants foraged by the ants. There is in vitro evidence that certain PSCs harm Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the fungal cultivar of leaf-cutter ants, suggesting a role for the Proteobacteria-dominant bacterial community present within fungus gardens. In this study, we investigated the ability of symbiotic bacteria present within fungus gardens of leaf-cutter ants to degrade PSCs. We cultured fungus garden bacteria, sequenced the genomes of 42 isolates, and identified genes involved in PSC degradation, including genes encoding cytochrome P450 enzymes and genes in geraniol, cumate, cinnamate, and α-pinene/limonene degradation pathways. Using metatranscriptomic analysis, we showed that some of these degradation genes are expressed in situ. Most of the bacterial isolates grew unhindered in the presence of PSCs and, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we determined that isolates from the genera Bacillus, Burkholderia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas degrade α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, or linalool. Using a headspace sampler, we show that subcolonies of fungus gardens reduced α-pinene and linalool over a 36-h period, while L. gongylophorus strains alone reduced only linalool. Overall, our results reveal that the bacterial communities in fungus gardens play a pivotal role in alleviating the effect of PSCs on the leaf-cutter ant system. IMPORTANCE Leaf-cutter ants are dominant neotropical herbivores capable of deriving energy from a wide range of plant substrates. The success of leaf-cutter ants is largely due to their external gut, composed of key microbial symbionts, specifically, the fungal mutualist L. gongylophorus and a consistent bacterial community. Both symbionts are known to have critical roles in extracting energy from plant material, yet comparatively little is known about their roles in the detoxification of plant secondary compounds. In this study, we assessed if the bacterial communities associated with leaf-cutter ant fungus gardens can degrade harmful plant chemicals. We identify plant secondary compound detoxification in leaf-cutter ant gardens as a process that depends on the degradative potential of both the bacterial community and L. gongylophorus. Our findings suggest that the fungus garden and its associated microbial community influence the generalist foraging abilities of the ants, underscoring the importance of microbial symbionts in plant substrate suitability for herbivores.

scholarly journals Bacteria contribute to plant secondary compound degradation in a generalist herbivore system

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte B. Francoeur ◽  
Lily Khadempour ◽  
Rolando D. Moreira-Soto ◽  
Kirsten Gotting ◽  
Adam J. Book ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Community ◽  
Secondary Compounds ◽  
Fungus Garden ◽  
Ant System ◽  
Plant Secondary Compounds ◽  
Generalist Herbivore ◽  
Secondary Compound ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Plant Secondary Compound ◽  
Microbial Symbionts

AbstractHerbivores must overcome a variety of plant defenses, including coping with plant secondary compounds (PSCs). To help detoxify these defensive chemicals, several insect herbivores are known to harbor gut microbiota with the metabolic capacity to degrade PSCs. Leaf-cutter ants are generalist herbivores, obtaining sustenance from specialized fungus gardens that act as external digestive systems, degrading the diverse collection of plants foraged by the ants. There is in vitro evidence that certain PSCs harm Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the fungal cultivar of leaf-cutter ants, suggesting a role for the Proteobacteria-dominant bacterial community present within fungus gardens. Here, we investigate the ability of symbiotic bacteria present within fungus gardens of leaf-cutter ants to degrade PSCs. We cultured fungus garden bacteria, sequenced the genomes of 42 isolates, and identified genes involved in PSC degradation, including genes encoding cytochrome p450s and genes in geraniol, cumate, cinnamate, and α-pinene/limonene degradation pathways. Using metatranscriptomic analysis, we show that some of these degradation genes are expressed in situ. Most of the bacterial isolates grew unhindered in the presence of PSCs and, using GC-MS, we determined that isolates from the genera Bacillus, Burkholderia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas degrade α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, or linalool. Using a headspace sampler, we show that sub-colonies of fungus gardens reduced α-pinene and linalool over a 36-hour period, while L. gongylophorus strains alone only reduced linalool. Overall, our results reveal that the bacterial community in fungus gardens play a pivotal role in alleviating the effect of PSCs on the leaf-cutter ant system.ImportanceLeaf-cutter ants are dominant neotropical herbivores capable of deriving energy from a wide range of plant substrates. The success of leaf-cutter ants is largely due to their external gut composed of key microbial symbionts, specifically, the fungal mutualist L. gongylophorus and a consistent bacterial community. Both symbionts are known to have critical roles in extracting energy from plant material, yet comparatively little is known about their role in the detoxification of plant secondary compounds. Here, we assess if the bacterial community associated with leaf-cutter ant fungus gardens can degrade harmful plant chemicals. We identify plant secondary compound detoxification in leaf-cutter ant gardens as a process that depends on the degradative potential of both the bacterial community and L. gongylophorus. Our findings suggest the fungus garden and its associated microbial community influences the generalist foraging abilities of the ants, underscoring the importance of microbial symbionts in plant substrate suitability for herbivores.

Effects of Juniperus species and stage of maturity on nutritional, in vitro digestibility, and plant secondary compound characteristics

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 4034-4047 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Stewart ◽  
T. R. Whitney ◽  
E. J. Scholljegerdes ◽  
H. D. Naumann ◽  
N. M Cherry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Secondary Compound ◽  
Plant Secondary Compound

Mycobiont and Whole Thallus Cultures of Roccella Montagnei Bél. For the Biosynthesis of Secondary Compounds

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G.N. Hariharan ◽  
S. Karthik ◽  
S. Muthukumar
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Source ◽  
Incubation Period ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽  
Secondary Compounds ◽  
Acetone Extract ◽  
Optimum Growth ◽  
Secondary Chemistry ◽  
Molecular Identity ◽  
Secondary Compound

The mycobiont and whole thallus cultures of Roccella montagnei Bel. were established using soredia as an inoculum.The mycobiont cultures showed optimum growth, biomass and biosynthesis of compounds in Lilly and Barnett medium with glucose as a carbon source, micronutrients and vitamins. After the incubation period of 180 days, the cultures were harvested, and their biomass and secondary compound profiles were analysed. The HPTLC chromatogram of the acetone extract of the NT and mycobiont cultures revealed erythrinas the major biosynthesized compound in both and identified as a key biosynthate by R. montagnei. Further, the NT biosynthesized 5 additional compounds and themycobiont cultures biosynthesized 6 additional compounds. The molecular identity of the cultured mycobiont was confirmed using nuclear ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) as well as the secondary chemistry. Lichen compound erythrin was identified as a key biosynthate by the cultures.

scholarly journals Exploring the role of macroalgal traits on the feeding behaviour of a generalist herbivore in Malaysian waters

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 407-417
Author(s):  
Lim Wai Yin ◽  
Lim Phaik Eem ◽  
Affendi Yang Amri ◽  
Song Sze Looi ◽  
Acga Cheng
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
South China ◽  
Nutritional Quality ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Total Nitrogen Content ◽  
Generalist Herbivore ◽  
Macroalgal Species ◽  
Straits Of Malacca

AbstractWith the potential adverse effects of climate change, it is essential to enhance the understanding of marine ecosystem dynamics, which can be driven by the co-evolutionary interaction between autotrophs and herbivores. This study looked into the autotroph-herbivore interactions in Malaysian waters, mainly to determine if autotroph nutritional quality significantly influences herbivore consumption rates. We documented the relative consumption rate of a generalist herbivore (Chanos chanos Forsskål) obtained from the Straits of Malacca through multiple feeding trials using 12 macroalgal species collected from different coastal areas of the Straits of Malacca, the Straits of Johor, and the South China Sea. The herbivore fed selectively on the tested macroalgal species, with the most and least consumed species having the lowest and highest total nitrogen content, respectively. Besides total nitrogen content, the least consumed species also had the highest total phenolic content. Interestingly, we observed that the herbivore generally preferred to consume filamentous macroalgae, especially those collected from the South China Sea. Overall, our findings demonstrated that the feeding behaviour of a generalist herbivore could be influenced by the nutritional quality of the autotrophs, which may depend directly or indirectly on other factors such as autotroph morphology and geography.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document