Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-Colonized Populus alba × P. berolinensis Seedlings on the Microbial and Metabolic Status of Gypsy Moth Larvae.

As shown in Figure 1B, the growth rates of 4th- and 5th-instar larvae of gypsy moth in the GM inoculation group were significantly lower than those in the CK group, while the growth rates of 3rd-5th-instar larvae in the GI treatment group were higher as compared to the CK group. In the present study, gut microbiota and fat body metabolism of gypsy moth larvae showed two completely opposite trends in response to GM or GI-colonized I Populus alba i × I P. berolinensis i seedlings. These results indicated that the metabolic disorder of gypsy moth larvae in the GM treatment group occurred, consistent with the growth retardation of gypsy moth larvae mentioned above. Altogether, the decrease in gut beneficial bacteria and microbial function disorder is one of the main reasons for the growth retardation of gypsy moth larvae in the GM group, while the improved gut environment and the enhanced metabolic functions of gut flora are responsible for the increased larval growth in the GI group. [Extracted from the article]