This research article investigates the competitive interactions between two strains of Metarhizium, a keystone genus of fungi known for its roles in insect control and plant growth promotion. The study focuses on Metarhizium robertsii ARSEF 2575 (Mr2575), a root-colonizing strain, and Metarhizium anisopliae ARSEF 549 (Ma549), which excels at quickly colonizing insects. The researchers explored the competitive abilities of these strains in various settings, including nutrient-limited environments, plant roots, and insect hosts like Manduca sexta and Drosophila melanogaster. Their findings reveal intriguing insights into how these strains compete for resources and the role of host size in shaping their interactions, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of the ecological dynamics within this important fungal genus.
Source: Sheng H, St. Leger RJ (2024) Metarhizium fight club: Within-host competitive exclusion and resource partitioning. PLoS Pathog, 20(11): e1012639. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. ppat.1012639
