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Geosmithia—widespread and abundant but long ignored bark beetle symbionts

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Abstract

Geosmithia (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) and their associations with bark beetles have long been in the shadow of the more often studied beetle associates: Ophiostomatales and Microascales. The last 20 years of research have demonstrated that Geosmithia species are widespread and abundant in the subcortical habitat and that they show varied degrees of symbiosis with their insect vectors. This article reviews the taxonomic history of the genus, species diversity, host ranges, and biogeography. We also discuss the ecological roles of various Geosmithia species in relation to insect vectors and host trees, phytopathogenicity, and their potential for biotechnology. An extensive review of primary data shows that bark beetle species vector predominantly either Geosmithia or ophiostomatoid fungi, but not both, and that this dichotomy is due to the tree substrate features, especially water content and decay stage, which a given bark beetle vector exploits. In both Geosmithia and the other beetle-associated fungi, coevolution with insect vectors led from phloem inhabiting ancestors to the formation of ambrosia lineages and reciprocal adaptations in the beetles. Lastly, we define knowledge gaps and suggest further research directions.

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Acknowledgements

We are greatly indebted to the reviewers and especially to the Associate Editor, Roland Kirschner, for suggestions and significant improvements to our manuscript.

Funding

M.K. benefitted from funding by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (RISE) under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 101008129, project acronym “Mycobiomics”, and from Czech Science Foundation (GAČR), grant number 19-09072S.

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M.K. prepared the first draft of the manuscript, figures, and tables. J.H. contributed significantly to the editing of the manuscript and improved the form of presentation of the results (figures and tables).

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Correspondence to Miroslav Kolařík.

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Section Editor: Roland Kirschner

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Kolařík, M., Hulcr, J. Geosmithia—widespread and abundant but long ignored bark beetle symbionts. Mycol Progress 22, 32 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-023-01880-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-023-01880-x

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