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. 2020 Jun 12;15(6):e0233710.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233710. eCollection 2020.

Relationship between the honeydew of mealy bugs and the growth of Phlebopus portentosus

Yi-Wei Fang  1 , Wen-Bing Wang  1 , Ming-Xia He  1 , Xin-Jing Xu  1 , Feng Gao  1 , Jing Liu  1 , Tian-Wei Yang  1 , Yang Cao  1 , Tao Yang  1 , Yun Wang  1 , Chun-Xia Zhang  1
Affiliations

Relationship between the honeydew of mealy bugs and the growth of Phlebopus portentosus

Yi-Wei Fang et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Phlebopus portentosus and mealy bugs form a fungus-insect gall on the roots of host plants. The fungus and mealy bugs benefit mutually through the gall, which is the key link in the nutritional mechanism of P. portentosus. The cavity of the fungus-insect gall provides an ideal shelter for mealy bugs survival and reproduction, but how does P. portentosus benefit from this symbiotic relationship?

Methodology and results: Anatomical examination of fungus-insect galls revealed that one or more mealy bugs of different generations were living inside the galls. The mealy bug's mouthpart could penetrate through the mycelium layer of the inside of the gall and suck plant juice from the host plant root. Mealy bugs excreted honeydew inside or outside the galls. The results of both honeydew agar medium and quartz tests showed that the honeydew can attract and promote the mycelial growth of P. portentosus. A test of the relationship between the honeydew and the formation of the fungus-insect gall showed that honeydew promoted gall formation.

Conclusions: All experimental results in this study show that the honeydew secreted by mealy bugs can attract and promote the mycelial growth of P. portentosus, forming a fungus-insect gall, because mealy bugs' honeydew is rich in amino acids and sugars.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Mass reproduction of D. neobrevipes and accumulation of a large amount of honeydew.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Anatomical examination of the fungus-insect gall.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Effects of honeydew on the growth of P. portentosus.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Relationship between honeydew and gall formation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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