ABSTRACT
Plants and insects are highly diversified groups due to their ability to exploit a wide range of niches, from the desert to the arctic zone. Plants and insects make up together approximately half of all known species of multi-cellular organisms. The plant-insect interaction shows reciprocal relations; this is seen where insects obtain their food and shelter for egg-laying on plants. On the other hand, insects help in pollination and fertilization.However, insect-plant interaction can occur in one of two ways, depending on whether the interaction is beneficial to both parties (mutualism) or is beneficial to insects but harmful to plants termed“herbivory”. Another method of indirect interaction was reported earlier, in which insects interact with mycorrhizal fungi through a common host plant.Some investigations have revealed that the interactions between mycorrhizal fungi and insects have focused on the two most widespread types of mycorrhizal fungal associations: the arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and the ectomycorrhizas (EM). This has resulted in the development of certain offensive and defensive strategies by both plants and insects for their existence. When herbivory increased, the plant photosynthesis was also enhanced and carbon distribution belowground would lead to greater richness in the mycorrhizal fungal species. However, further increases in herbivory reduced the carbon allocation belowground and also led to alessrichness in the mycorrhizal species.
