Evolution of 'pollinator'- attracting signals in fungi.
Fungi produce a plethora of secondary metabolites yet their biological significance is often little understood. Some compounds show well-known antibiotic properties, others may serve as volatile signals for the attraction of insects that act as vectors of spores or gametes. Our investigations in an outcrossing, self-incompatible fungus show that a fungus-produced volatile compound with fungitoxic activities is also responsible for the attraction of specific insects that transfer gametes. We argue that insect attraction using this compound is likely to have evolved from its primary function of defence--as has been suggested for floral scent in the angiosperms. We, thus, propose that similar yet convergent evolutionary pathways have lead to interspecific communication signals in both fungi and plants.
Schiestl
Florian P
FP
Plant Ecological Genetics, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätsstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland. florian.schiestl@env.ethz.ch
Steinebrunner
Fabrizio
F
Schulz
Claudia
C
von Reuss
Stephan
S
Francke
Wittko
W
Weymuth
Christophe
C
Leuchtmann
Adrian
A
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004175:Diptera; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis*; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*
D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D009822:Oils, Volatile