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Vector Affinity and Diversity of Geosmithia Fungi Living on Subcortical Insects Inhabiting Pinaceae Species in Central and Northeastern Europe

  • Invertebrate Microbiology
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Abstract

Fungi from the genus Geosmithia (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) are associated with bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae), though little is known about ecology, diversity, and distribution of these fungi across beetle and its host tree species. This study surveyed the diversity, distribution and vector affinity of Geosmithia isolated from subcortical insects that colonized trees from the family Pinaceae in Central and Northeastern Europe. Twelve Geosmithia species were isolated from 85 plant samples associated with 23 subcortical insect species (including 14 bark beetle species). Geosmithia community composition was similar across different localities and vector species; although the fungal communities associated with insects that colonized Pinus differed from that colonizing other tree species (Abies, Larix, and Picea). Ten Geosmithia species from four independent phylogenetic lineages were not reported previously from vectors feeding on other plant families and seem to be restricted to the vectors from Pinaceae only. We conclude that presence of such substrate specificity suggests a long and stable association between Geosmithia and bark beetles.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Miloš Knížek, Petr Šrůtka, and Kateřina Nováková for bark beetle identification and to Wilhelm de Beer for bringing to our attention the S. anomala papers and for valuable comments on the final manuscript. We thanks to anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and suggestions. This work was supported by the grants GACR P506/11/2302 and N N309 049037.

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  1. Institute of Microbiology of the ASCR, v. v. i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic

    Miroslav Kolařík

  2. Department of Botany Charles, Faculty of Science, University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01, Prague 2, Czech Republic

    Miroslav Kolařík

  3. Department of Forest Pathology, Agriculture University of Cracow, Al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425, Cracow, Poland

    Robert Jankowiak

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  1. Miroslav Kolařík
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Correspondence to Miroslav Kolařík.

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Supplementary Table 1

Overview of the distribution and host affinity of Geosmithia spp. based on our and published data. (DOCX 18 kb)

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Kolařík, M., Jankowiak, R. Vector Affinity and Diversity of Geosmithia Fungi Living on Subcortical Insects Inhabiting Pinaceae Species in Central and Northeastern Europe. Microb Ecol 66, 682–700 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-013-0228-x

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