theIASHub | 23 Jul, 2025 | 6
Beetle-fungi Alliance : Recently, researchers from the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) uncovered a serious ecological and economic threat facing Kerala, which produces 90% of India's natural rubber. A destructive alliance between the ambrosia beetle (Euplatypus parallelus) and two fungal pathogens—Fusarium ambrosia and Fusarium solani , has begun decimating rubber plantations across the state.
o Feeding Behavior: Prefer dead or dying trees to cultivate ambrosia fungi, which serve as their primary food source.
o Attraction Mechanism: Drawn to trees that emit volatile organic compounds (like ethanol) when stressed or weakened.
o First reported in India in 2012 in cashew plantations of Goa.
o Recently detected in the Irrity-Kannur rubber belt of Kerala.
o Fungal Association: Carries fungal pathogens into host trees and cultivates them within tunnels (galleries) bored into the bark.
o Considered weakly pathogenic but plays a role in tree decline when beetles bore into stressed trees.
o Carried in mycangia (specialized organs) of beetles and inoculated into tree xylem.
o Reported in Asia, Africa, and recently in India, often associated with invasive ambrosia beetles.
o A soil-borne fungus found globally and pathogenic to plants, humans, and animals.
o Plant Pathogen: Causes root rot, stem canker, and fruit rot in crops like legumes, cucurbits, and potatoes.
o Human Pathogen: Opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals.
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