Figure 11

Schematic outline of fungi-larvae interaction. (a) Initial stages of fungal interaction, 1. Fungal spore before attachment, 2. Attachment of fungal spore on larval surface by mucilage secretion, 3. Germination of spore on host surface (b) Post germination stages of interaction, 1. Appresorrium formation, 2. Formation of infection peg, 3. Secretion of enzymes, 4. Larval cuticle degradation by enzymatic action, 5. Hyphal proliferation, 6. Sporulation, 7. Secretion of toxin, 8. Interaction of toxin with larval hemocyte, 9. Degeneration of hemocyte nucleus (c) Final stages of fungal interaction, 1. Degraded segment of dead larvae, 2. Degenerated hemocyte nuclei (immunity breakdown), 3. Shrinkage and deformation of alimentary system (based on information of our earlier work¹¹), 4. Germination of spore inside dead larvae, 5. Proliferation of hyphae outside larval cuticle.