Defensive Mutualism in Microbial Symbiosis

James F. White, Jr., Ph.D., is a Professor and Chair of the Plant Biology and Pathology Department in the School of Environmental & Biological Science at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. He conducts research on the biology of fungal endophytes and is the author of more than 150 articles. He is also the editor of several reference books on the biology, ecology, and evolution of fungi; and associate editor of the journal Mycologia. Dr. White was the founding Secretary of the International Symbiosis Society. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and maintains memberships in several scientific societies, including the Mycological Society of America (MSA) and the American Phytopathological Society (APS). Monica S. Torres, Ph.D., is currently a Post Doctoral Associate in the Department of Plant Biology and Pathology at Rutgers University, and a member of the faculty at the National University of Mar del Plata, Balcarce, Argentina. Her scientific interests are in the areas of taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolution of the Clavicipitaceae and biology of fungal endophytes in natural and agricultural ecosystems.

• OVERVIEW OF MUTUALISTIC ASSOCIATIONS AND DEFENSE. Introduction: Symbiosis, Defensive Mutualism, and Variations on the Theme. Defensive Mutualism and Grass Endophytes: Still Valid after All These Years? Overview of Defensive Mutualism in the Marine Environment. PROKARYOTIC DEFENSIVE SYMBIONTS. Microbial Symbionts for Defense and Competition among Ciliate Hosts. Bacterial Chemical Defenses of Marine Animal Hosts. Is the Vibrio fi scheri–Euprymna scolopes Symbiosis a Defensive Mutualism? Entomopathogenic Nematode and Bacteria Mutualism. Interspecies Competition in a Bacteria–Nematode Mutualism. Defensive Symbionts in Aphids and Other Insects. Fungus-Growing Ant–Microbe Symbiosis: Using Microbes to Defend Beneficial Associations within Symbiotic Communities. EUKARYOTIC DEFENSIVE SYMBIONTS. Chemical Defense in Lichen Symbioses. Arbuscular Mycorrhizae as Defense against Pathogens. Evaluation of Mycorrhizal Symbioses as Defense in Extreme Environments. Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis on Enhancement of Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses. Conifer Endophytes. Diversity and Ecological Roles of Clavicipitaceous Endophytes of Grasses. Contributions of Pharmaceutical Antibiotic and Secondary Metabolite Discovery to the Understanding of Microbial Defense and Antagonism. FUNGAL ENDOPHYTES AS MODEL SYSTEMS TO UNDERSTAND DEFENSIVE MUTUALISM. Extensions to and Modulation of Defensive Mutualism in Grass Endophytes. Conceptual Model for the Analysis of Plant–Endophyte Symbiosis in Relation to Abiotic Stress. Habitat-Adapted Symbiosis as a Defense against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses. Insect Herbivory and Defensive Mutualisms between Plants and Fungi. Fungal Endophytes: Defensive Characteristics and Implications for Agricultural Applications. Endophytic Niche and Grass Defense. Index.

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