Woodwasp Fungal Symbiosis

This project focuses on the fascinating symbiosis between Siricid woodwasps (e.g. Sirex, Urocerus, Xeris, etc.) and Basidiomycetes fungi of the genus Amylostereum. We studied the taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Amylostereum.

These data were used to develop a fingerprint technique to distinguish inter- and intra-specific groups. We also studied the population structure and spread of the A. areolatum - S. noctilio complex in the Southern Hemisphere. The data indicated that these organisms spread between countries of the Southern Hemisphere, and also that a new genotype of the fungus has unknowingly been spread with the biological control agent (the nematode Deladenus siricidicola) in these countries. Continuing work are focusing on development of more sensitive markers that will allow more detailed studies of the phylogeographic patterns of these wasps, their fungi and parasites; in natural and introduced environments. We are also interested in the influence of this obligate symbiosis on the contemporaty population structures of the participants, as well as their co-evolution.

Personel:

Bernard Slippers (University of Pretoria, South Africa)

Jan Stenlid

Rimvis Vasiliauskas

Related publications: 

• Slippers B, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD, Coutinho TA. 2000. Relationships among, Amylostereum species associated with Siricid woodwasps inferred from mitochondrial ribosomal DNA sequences. Mycologia 92(5), 955-963.
• Slippers B, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD, Coutinho TA. 2001. Population structure and possible origin of Amylostereum areolatum in South Africa. Plant Pathology 50(2), 206-210.
•  Wingfield MJ, Slippers B, Roux J, Wingfield BD. 2001. Worldwide movement of forest fungi, especially in the Tropics and Southern Hemisphere. BioScience 51(2), 134-140.
• Slippers B, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD, Coutinho TA. 2002. DNA sequence and RFLP data reflect geographical spread and relationships of Amylostereum areolatum and its insect vectors. Molecular Ecology 11, 1845-1854.
•  Slippers B, Coutinho TA, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. 2003. A review of the genus Amylostereum and its association with woodwasps. South African Journal of Science 99, 70-74.