Two fungal symbioses collide: endophytic fungi are not welcome in leaf-cutting ant gardens.
Van Bael SA, Fernández-Marín H, Valencia MC, Rojas EI, Wcislo WT, Herre EA.
Van Bael SA, et al.
Proc Biol Sci. 2009 Jul 7;276(1666):2419-26. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2009.0196. Epub 2009 Apr 1.
Proc Biol Sci. 2009.
PMID: 19364739
Free PMC article.
Experimental manipulations showed that (i) ants spend more time cutting leaves from a tropical vine, Merremia umbellata, with high versus low endophyte densities, (ii) ants reduce the amount of endophytic fungi in leaves before planting them in their gardens, (iii) …
Experimental manipulations showed that (i) ants spend more time cutting leaves from a tropical vine, Merremia umbellata, with …