TY  - JOUR
A1  - van de Peppel, L. J. J.
A1  - Aanen, D. K.
A1  - Biedermann, P. H. W.
T1  - Low intraspecific genetic diversity indicates asexuality and vertical transmission in the fungal cultivars of ambrosia beetles
T2  - Fungal Ecology
N2  - Ambrosia beetles farm ascomycetous fungi in tunnels within wood. These ambrosia fungi are regarded asexual, although population genetic proof is missing. Here we explored the intraspecific genetic diversity of Ambrosiella grosmanniae and Ambrosiella hartigii (Ascomycota: Microascales), the mutualists of the beetles Xylosandrus germanus and Anisandrus dispar. By sequencing five markers (ITS, LSU, TEF1α, RPB2, β-tubulin) from several fungal strains, we show that X. germanus cultivates the same two clones of A. grosmanniae in the USA and in Europe, whereas A. dispar is associated with a single A. hartigii clone across Europe. This low genetic diversity is consistent with predominantly asexual vertical transmission of Ambrosiella cultivars between beetle generations. This clonal agriculture is a remarkable case of convergence with fungus-farming ants, given that both groups have a completely different ecology and evolutionary history.
KW  - clonal fungiculture
KW  - ambrosia fungus
KW  - Ambrosiella
KW  - vertical transmission
KW  - symbiosis
KW  - Xylosandrus
KW  - Anisandrus
KW  - asexuality
KW  - genetic diversity
Y1  - 2018
UR  - https://opus.bibliothek.uni-wuerzburg.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/23216
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-232161
VL  - 32
ER  -