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Microcosm Predators: Why Are Some Fungi Surprisingly Controlling Plant Pests?
In nature, predators are not limited to carnivores but also include some surprising creatures, such as fungi that prey on nematodes. These organisms, known as nematode-predating fungi, are particularly adapted to living in nitrogen-deficient environments and have been found to harbor as many as 700 different species. These fungi capture and digest nematodes to obtain necessary nutrients, a behavior that not only demonstrates fungal diversity but also provides potential biocontrol solutions for agriculture.
Nematode-predating fungi maintain ecological balance in nature and provide a sustainable alternative for crop control.
Predation mechanism and classification
Nematode predatory fungi mainly use four methods to capture prey: mechanical capture, toxin paralysis, parasitism, and egg parasitism. Some fungi use sticky filamentous structures to capture nematodes, such as
"Adhesive networks, loops, etc. When nematodes come into contact, these structures will quickly shrink and trap them firmly."
While others Some prey by secreting toxins to paralyze their prey.For example, fungi such as Coprinus comatus and Stropharia rugosoannulata secrete toxins that can effectively paralyze nematodes temporarily, and then they quickly penetrate the cut membrane for digestion. This not only demonstrates the efficient capture skills of these microscopic predators, but also hints at their potential in agricultural pest control.
Parasitic fungi use their spores to enter the nematode's body and absorb its nutrients, eventually leading to the death of the nematode. This process demonstrates the complexity of ecological relationships in the microbial world.
Ecology and Habitat
Nematode-predating fungi are usually concentrated in the upper layers of soil, grassland, leaf litter, and some shallow water ecological environments. These fungi utilize specialized adhesive structures, such as sticky filaments and web-like morphologies, to attract and capture nearby nematodes. For example, Arthrobotrys oligospora builds its trapping net after detecting the presence of nematodes, suggesting that it is sensitive to its surroundings.
These fungi can emit an odor similar to that of nematodes to attract prey, which is one of the keys to their successful capture.
When nematodes enter the trapping nets of these fungi, they are quickly trapped and digested. Like Arthrobotrys dactyloides, which uses rings to capture prey, this rapid contraction prevents the nematode from escaping and becoming its delicious prey.
Potential for biological control
With growing interest in environmentally friendly agricultural methods, certain nematode-predating fungi are being studied for use as biocontrol agents. Fungi such as Purpureocillium lilacinum are receiving attention because they effectively infect the plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita, which damages the roots of a variety of crops.
However, the potential shown in laboratory experiments does not always translate into the same results in the field. Some strains appear to be aggressive in the laboratory but fail to be effective under actual field conditions. This has led researchers to continue exploring how to optimize the potential of these fungi as effective biocontrol agents.
The diversity and adaptability of nematode-predating fungi undoubtedly provide new ideas for agricultural production and achieve effective pest control in an environmentally friendly way.
In agricultural production, how to effectively use nematode-predating fungi to combat the troublesome pest problem?
