Fusarium xyrophilum facilitates its dispersal by exploiting sensory biases of generalist insects through pseudoflowers.

Fusarium xyrophilum pseudoflowers attract diverse insects and facilitate fungal dispersal by exploiting generalist insect sensory biases, with 50% of insects carrying fungal DNA.

• Why it matters: Understanding how fungi disperse their propagules is crucial for comprehending their ecological strategies and interactions with insect vectors. This work addresses the gap in knowledge about whether fungal structures mimic flowers to attract insects and aid dispersal.
• What they did: The study involved field observations of insect visits to pseudoflowers and real flowers on Xyris surinamensis, detection of F. xyrophilum DNA on insect bodies via PCR, and chemical analysis of volatile emissions from both structures, identifying similarities and key differences.
• The result: Findings reveal that insects frequently visit and chew pseudoflowers, carry fungal DNA, and are attracted by volatile cues, indicating that F. xyrophilum exploits insect sensory biases rather than true mimicry to enhance dispersal.