Abstract
The mycangium of the adult female southern pine beetle is a prothoracic glandular repository that serves for the propagation, transmission, and dissemination of fungi between and within host conifers. One fungus (SJB 133) was observed as reproducing amerosporous cells in the mycangium, but in larval galleries it developed a sporodochium-like layer of sympodulate conidiophores and conidia. Anascigerous reproduction in the galleries appeared to be stimulated by the presence of beetle larvae. The fungus exhibited many of the characteristics of ambrosial fungi associated with xylomycetophagous scolytids, thus indicating a possible analogous nutritional relationship. Inoculum from both the mycangium and beetle galleries produced an anascigerousSporothrix sp. on various media. After prolonged development on potatoglucose agar the fungus produced aCeratocystis ascigerous form. Virulence and serological studies resulted in the conclusion that the mycangial fungus (SJB 133) is a variety ofCeratocystis minor. A detailed description of the fungus is presented. Significance of the maintenance of theSporothrix form in the mycangium and galleries is discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Barras, S. J. (1970) Antagonism betweenDendroctonus frontalis and the fungusCeratocystis minor.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 63:1187–1190.
Barras, S. J. &Perry, T. (1971) Gland cells and fungi associated with prothoracic mycangium ofDendroctonus adjunctus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 64:123–126.
Barras, S. J. &Perry, T. (1972) Fungal symbionts in the prothoracic mycangium ofDendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae).Z. Ang. Entomol. 71: 95–104.
Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew (1960) Herb. I.M.I. handbook; methods in use at the Commonwealth Mycological Institute. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Norwich, 103 p.
Davidson, R. W. (1958) Additional species of Ophiostomataceae from Colorado.Mycologia 50:661–670.
Francke-Grosmann, H. (1967) Ectosymbiosis in wood inhabiting insects, p. 171–180.S. M. Henry (ed.) Symbiosis, vol. 2 Academic Press, New York.
Graham, K. (1967) Fungal-insect mutualism in trees and timber.Ann. Rev. Entomol. 12:105–126.
Griffin, H. D. (1968) The genusCeratocystis in Ontario.Can. J. Bot. 46:689–718.
Happ, G. M., Happ, C. M. &Barras, S. J. (1971) Fine structure of the prothoracic mycangium, a chamber for the culture of symbiotic fungi in the southern pine beetle,Dendroctonus frontalis.Tissue and Cell 3:295–308.
Hedgcock, G. G. (1906) Studies upon some chromogenic fungi which discolor wood.Mo. Bot. Gard. Ann. Report 17:59–114.
Hunt, J. (1956) Taxonomy of the genusCeratocystis.Lloydia 19:1–58.
Kok, L. T., Norris, D. M. &Chu, H. M. (1970) Sterol metabolism as a basis for mutualistic symbiosis.Nature 225:661–662.
Mariat, F., Lavalle, P. &Destombes, P. (1962) Recherches sur la sporotrichose.Sabouraudia 2:60–79.
Norris, D. M., Baker, J. M. &Chu, H. M. (1969) Symbiontic interrelationships between microbes and ambrosia beetles. III. Ergosterol as the source of sterol to the insect.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 62:413–414.
Rumbold, C. T. (1936) Three blue-staining fungi, including two new species, associated with bark beetles.J. Agr. Res. 52:419–437.
Taylor, J. H. (1970) A comparison of someCeratocystis species withSporothrix schenckii.Mycopathol. Mycol. Appl. 42:233–240.
Whitney, H. S. (1971) Association ofDendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) with blue stain fungi and yeasts during brood development in lodgepole pine.Can. Entomol. 103:1495–1503.
Wright, E. F. &Cain, R. F. (1961) New species of the genusCeratocystis.Can. J. Bot. 39:1215–1230.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Coleoptera: Scolytidae
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Barras, S.J., Taylor, J.J. Varietal Ceratocystis minor identified from mycangium ofDendroctonus frontalis . Mycopathologia et Mycologia Applicata 50, 293–305 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02050029
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02050029