Publication - Journal Article From Plants to Ants: Fungal Modification of Leaf Lipids for Nutrition and Communication in the Leaf-Cutter Ant Fungal Garden Ecosystem

https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.01307-20
Journal Article
mSystems, vol. 6, iss. 2, 2021
Authors
Lily Khadempour, Jennifer E. Kyle, Bobbie-Jo M. Webb-Robertson, Carrie D. Nicora, Francesca B. Smith, Richard D. Smith, Mary S. Lipton, Cameron R. Currie, Erin S. Baker, Kristin E. Burnum-Johnson, Elizabeth Anne Shank
Abstract
In this work, we examined the role of lipids in the mutualism between leaf-cutter ants and fungus. These ants cut fresh leaf material, which they provide to their fungal cultivar, that converts energy and nutrients from the plants and provides it to the ants in specialized hyphal swellings called gongylidia.
English