Insect-fungus interference competition - The potential role of global secondary metabolite regulation, pathway-specific mycotoxin expression and formation of oxylipins

► We examine the effect of various fungal mutants on Aspergillus-Drosophila competition. ► Global (VeA) rather than pathway-specific defense regulation drives insect survival. ► Precocious activation of toxin production (HdaA) does not affect insect development. ► Oxylipin formation (Ppo) directly or indirectly influences insect development.