Nematode-Trapping Fungi
- Authors: Xiangzhi Jiang1, Meichun Xiang2, Xingzhong Liu3
- Editors: Joseph Heitman4, Pedro W. Crous5, Timothy Y. James6
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VIEW AFFILIATIONS HIDE AFFILIATIONSAffiliations: 1: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; 2: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; 3: State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China; 4: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710; 5: CBS-KNAW Fungal Diversity Centre, Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences, Utrecht, The Netherlands; 6: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048
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Received 07 July 2016 Accepted 17 November 2016 Published 27 January 2017
- Correspondence: Xingzhong Liu, [email protected]

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Abstract:
Nematode-trapping fungi are a unique and intriguing group of carnivorous microorganisms that can trap and digest nematodes by means of specialized trapping structures. They can develop diverse trapping devices, such as adhesive hyphae, adhesive knobs, adhesive networks, constricting rings, and nonconstricting rings. Nematode-trapping fungi have been found in all regions of the world, from the tropics to Antarctica, from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems. They play an important ecological role in regulating nematode dynamics in soil. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the majority of nematode-trapping fungi belong to a monophyletic group in the order Orbiliales (Ascomycota). Nematode-trapping fungi serve as an excellent model system for understanding fungal evolution and interaction between fungi and nematodes. With the development of molecular techniques and genome sequencing, their evolutionary origins and divergence, and the mechanisms underlying fungus-nematode interactions have been well studied. In recent decades, an increasing concern about the environmental hazards of using chemical nematicides has led to the application of these biological control agents as a rapidly developing component of crop protection.
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Citation: Jiang X, Xiang M, Liu X. 2017. Nematode-Trapping Fungi. Microbiol Spectrum 5(1):FUNK-0022-2016. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.FUNK-0022-2016.




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Abstract:
Nematode-trapping fungi are a unique and intriguing group of carnivorous microorganisms that can trap and digest nematodes by means of specialized trapping structures. They can develop diverse trapping devices, such as adhesive hyphae, adhesive knobs, adhesive networks, constricting rings, and nonconstricting rings. Nematode-trapping fungi have been found in all regions of the world, from the tropics to Antarctica, from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems. They play an important ecological role in regulating nematode dynamics in soil. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the majority of nematode-trapping fungi belong to a monophyletic group in the order Orbiliales (Ascomycota). Nematode-trapping fungi serve as an excellent model system for understanding fungal evolution and interaction between fungi and nematodes. With the development of molecular techniques and genome sequencing, their evolutionary origins and divergence, and the mechanisms underlying fungus-nematode interactions have been well studied. In recent decades, an increasing concern about the environmental hazards of using chemical nematicides has led to the application of these biological control agents as a rapidly developing component of crop protection.

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Figures

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FIGURE 1
Structures of traps in nematode-trapping fungi. (A, B) Adhesive networks of Arthrobotrys oligospora. Bar, 20 μm. (C–E) Constricting rings of Drechslerella stenobrocha. Bar, 20 μm. (F) Adhesive knobs and nonconstricting rings of Dactylellina haptotyla. Bar, 20 μm. (G) Nematode trapped by D. haptotyla. Bar, 40 μm. (H, I) Adhesive columns of Gamsylella cionopaga. Bar, 20 μm.

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FIGURE 2
Phylogeny of carnivorous Orbiliomycetes constructed by RAxML using five protein-coding genes. The bootstrap supports are marked on the branch. Trapping devices are drawn on the left.
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