Entire communities of columnar cacti such as Pilosocereus royenii are being devastated by the infestation of the invasive mealybug Hypogeococcus sp. in Puerto Rico. This insect was first described as Hypogeococcus pungens, but later studies suggest it might be a different, undescribed specie of Hypogeococcus. The use of common insecticides results in a limited control strategy because this insect inhabits deformed plant tissue and covers itself with a protective wax. Generally, endophytic fungi provide the host plant with defenses against biotic and abiotic factors through the production of bioactive compounds that increase plant defenses and their ability to attack pathogens. We studied the community of cultivatable endophytic fungi associated with P. royenii to establish its possible role in the survival of cacti infested with Hypogeococcus sp. We assessed fragments of surface-sterilized plant tissue from asymptomatic and cacti infested by Hypogeococcus sp. The rate of fungal infection and relative frequency of fungal morphotypes isolated from plant tissue was calculated as well as the similarity of the fungal community among individuals. Asymptomatic and infested P. royenii individuals presented similar fungal infection rates. Fungal colonies were isolated from asymptomatic P. royenii tissue and from affected individuals, representing a total of 34 fungal morphotypes. Infested individuals harbored an endophytic fungal community with greater similarity to each other compared to the asymptomatic individuals.

中文翻译：

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与被入侵性潜球菌感染的 Pilosocereus royenii（仙人掌科）相关的内生真菌群落的变化。（半翅目：假球菌科）

柱状仙人掌的整个群落，例如 Pilosocereus royenii，都被侵入性粉蚧 Hypogeococcus sp 的侵染所摧毁。在波多黎各。这种昆虫最初被描述为 Hypogeococcus pungens，但后来的研究表明它可能是一种不同的、未描述的 Hypogeococcus 物种。使用普通杀虫剂导致控制策略有限，因为这种昆虫栖息在变形的植物组织中并用保护蜡覆盖自身。通常，内生真菌通过产生生物活性化合物来增强植物防御能力及其攻击病原体的能力，从而为宿主植物提供针对生物和非生物因素的防御能力。我们研究了与 P. royenii 相关的可培养内生真菌群落，以确定其在感染 Hypogeococcus sp. 的仙人掌存活中可能发挥的作用。我们评估了来自无症状和被 Hypogeococcus sp 感染的仙人掌的表面消毒植物组织碎片。计算真菌感染率和从植物组织中分离出的真菌形态类型的相对频率以及个体间真菌群落的相似性。无症状和受感染的 P. royenii 个体表现出相似的真菌感染率。从无症状的 P. royenii 组织和受影响的个体中分离出真菌菌落，共代表 34 种真菌形态。与无症状个体相比，受感染个体具有内生真菌群落，彼此之间具有更大的相似性。计算真菌感染率和从植物组织中分离出的真菌形态类型的相对频率以及个体间真菌群落的相似性。无症状和受感染的 P. royenii 个体表现出相似的真菌感染率。从无症状的 P. royenii 组织和受影响的个体中分离出真菌菌落，共代表 34 种真菌形态。与无症状个体相比，受感染个体具有内生真菌群落，彼此之间具有更大的相似性。计算真菌感染率和从植物组织中分离出的真菌形态类型的相对频率以及个体间真菌群落的相似性。无症状和受感染的 P. royenii 个体表现出相似的真菌感染率。从无症状的 P. royenii 组织和受影响的个体中分离出真菌菌落，共代表 34 种真菌形态。与无症状个体相比，受感染个体具有内生真菌群落，彼此之间具有更大的相似性。royenii 组织和来自受影响的个体，代表总共 34 种真菌形态。与无症状个体相比，受感染个体具有内生真菌群落，彼此之间具有更大的相似性。royenii 组织和来自受影响的个体，代表总共 34 种真菌形态。与无症状个体相比，受感染个体具有内生真菌群落，彼此之间具有更大的相似性。