Interactions between mutualistic bark beetles and ophiostomatoid fungi have received considerable attention in recent years. Studies have shown how volatile organic compounds emitted from mutualist fungi affect the behaviors of several bark beetle species. However, we currently lack sufficient knowledge regarding whether bark beetle pheromones can influence mutualist fungi. Here, we measured growth and biomass of two mutualistic fungi of the mountain pine beetle in response to headspace of a beetle pheromone (trans-verbenol), a blend of host tree volatiles, the combination of both, or control (no volatile source) in vitro experiments consisting of a nitrogen-based medium. The surface area and ergosterol content of the mycelia were used as surrogates for fungal growth and biomass respectively. We found that both growth and biomass of Grosmannia clavigera and Ophiostoma montium were greater in medium exposed to any type of volatile sources than the control. While growth and ergosterol content of G. clavigera were highest in the combination treatment, there were no differences in growth or biomass among the types of volatiles introduced for O. montium. These results suggest that both mutualistic fungi can utilize both bark beetle pheromone and host tree volatiles as nutrient sources. Overall, these results support the on-going studies on the role of volatile organic compounds mediating mutualistic bark beetle-fungi interactions.

近年来，共生树皮甲虫和蛇口真菌之间的相互作用受到了相当多的关注。研究表明，共生真菌释放的挥发性有机化合物如何影响几种树皮甲虫物种的行为。然而，我们目前缺乏关于树皮甲虫信息素是否会影响共生真菌的足够知识。在这里，我们测量了山松甲虫的两种互惠真菌的生长和生物量，以响应甲虫信息素的顶部空间（反式-verbenol），宿主树挥发物的混合物，两者的组合，或由氮基培养基组成的对照（无挥发源）体外实验。菌丝体的表面积和麦角甾醇含量分别用作真菌生长和生物量的替代物。我们发现，在暴露于任何类型挥发性来源的培养基中，Grosmannia clavigera和Ophiostoma montium 的生长和生物量都高于对照。虽然组合处理中G. clavigera 的生长和麦角甾醇含量最高，但在为O. montium引入的挥发物类型之间，生长或生物量没有差异. 这些结果表明，两种互惠真菌都可以利用树皮甲虫信息素和寄主树木挥发物作为营养来源。总体而言，这些结果支持正在进行的关于挥发性有机化合物介导互惠树皮甲虫-真菌相互作用的研究。