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Bis-naphthopyrone pigments protect filamentous ascomycetes from a wide range of predators

Summary

This research reveals how fungi protect themselves from being eaten by using bright pigments that make them unpalatable to predators, similar to how some bright-colored insects warn predators that they taste bad. Unlike previously thought toxic defenses, these pigments work by making the fungi distasteful rather than poisonous. This finding changes our understanding of how fungi defend themselves in nature. Impacts on everyday life: • Helps explain why some fungi have bright colors in nature • Could lead to new natural food preservatives that deter pests • Provides insights for developing non-toxic pest control methods • May help in understanding food spoilage by fungi • Could inspire new approaches to protecting crops from fungal damage

Background

Fungi protect themselves from predation by soil-dwelling animals through chemical defenses. While fungal toxins have been studied extensively, the role of non-toxic defensive compounds is less understood. This study investigates how fungal pigments called bis-naphthopyrones protect fungi from animal predators.

Objective

To investigate whether the fungal pigment aurofusarin and related bis-naphthopyrone compounds protect filamentous fungi from predation through a non-toxic defensive mechanism. The study aimed to characterize the induction of these compounds by predation and their effects on various arthropod predators.

Results

Predation strongly induced the production of aurofusarin and related pigments in several Fusarium species. Arthropod predators strongly avoided feeding on fungi producing these compounds and preferred mutants lacking aurofusarin synthesis. The compounds showed low toxicity but strong antifeedant effects across different arthropod species. Mechanical damage alone was sufficient to induce pigment production, suggesting a general wound response mechanism.

Conclusion

Bis-naphthopyrone pigments serve as non-toxic defense compounds that protect filamentous ascomycetes from predators through antifeedant effects rather than toxicity. The widespread occurrence of these compounds among ascomycetes suggests this is a common defense strategy in fungi. The high production levels may prevent predator adaptation by overwhelming potential resistance mechanisms.
  • Published in:Nature Communications,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1038/s41467-019-11377-5
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