Quackgrass- and ryegrass-adapted populations of the cereal rust mite, Abacarus hystrix (Acari: Eriophyidae), differ in their potential for wheat, Triticum aestivum, colonization

Abstract

The cereal rust mite, Abacarus hystrix, is one of the most notable among mites causing losses in cultivated grasslands. It is one of a few eriophyoid species for which a broad host range has been reported. Recent studies, however, have shown that host specialization is very likely in this species. For two populations of A. hystrix (one inhabiting perennial ryegrass, the second inhabiting quackgrass), host-associated differences correlated with strong host fidelity, distinct phenotypes and reproductive barriers have been found. In the present study, the ability of wheat colonization by quackgrass- and ryegrass-adapted cereal rust mite was studied. The hypothesis that the potential for wheat colonization by the quackgrass strain is more likely was tested by comparing the colonization performance (assessed by female survival and fecundity) of quackgrass- and ryegrass-associated A. hystrix on their familiar hosts and on wheat. The ryegrass population had no success in wheat colonization (expressed by extremely low fecundity and female survival). Fecundity and survival of quackgrass strain were similar on wheat and the familiar host, or even higher on wheat. Phylogenetic similarity of quackgrass and wheat is discussed as a possible factor that might influence such patterns of host colonization. Since A. hystrix is the only vector of the ryegrass mosaic virus (RgMV), the presented results may be helpful in explaining the inability of RgMV to successfully infest wheat. The conclusions are that (i) quackgrass- and ryegrass-adapted strains of the cereal rust mite have different physiological host ranges and (ii) phylogenetic relationships between host plant species appear to be drivers for host specialization in this mite species.

Morphometric analyses reveal synonymy of two monotypic genera, Huangiella and Tumoris (Acari, Eriophyoidea, Eriophyidae)

“…Morphometric analyses thus provide a reasonable option with balance in effectiveness and efficiency. The present and many previous studies have proved morphometrics a useful tool in eriophyoid classification (Huang et al 1996; Magud et al 2007; Skoracka et al 2002; Navia et al 2006, 2009; Skoracka 2009a, b). …”

The cereal rust miteAbacarus hystrix(Acari: Eriophyoidea) is a complex of species: evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

“…Three samples (AH10, AH20 and AH30) originated from females that were reared as laboratory colonies previously used in cross-breeding and colonization experiments (e.g. Skoracka, 2008Skoracka, , 2009 where the details regarding rearing mites are described). The distances between collecting sites ranged from 1.5 to 105.5 km.…”

“…Edwards & Labhart, 2000; Drés & Mallet, 2002). The latter phenomenon seems to be more likely in respect to the cereal rust mite since it has been demonstrated that two populations of this mite (quackgrass- and ryegrass-associated) differ in host preferences and performance (Skoracka & Kuczyński, 2006; Skoracka et al , 2007) and have different physiological host ranges (Skoracka, 2009). Thus, these two populations of A. hystrix were concluded to be highly host-adapted.…”

Spider webs as eDNA samplers: Biodiversity assessment across the tree of life

“…In our samples, we found several animal, fungal, and bacterial taxa that are of agricultural and medical importance to humans (Supporting Information 3), which highlights a range of possible uses of eDNA from spider webs. Notable examples among plant pathogens and disease‐causing agents are genera that include grain rust and wheat curl mites (Eriophyidae; Hartford et al, 1982; Skoracka, 2009), gall and fungus gnats (Cecidomyiidae, Sciaridae; Gagné, 2004; Scheepmaker et al, 1997), aphids (e.g., Pineus and Anoecia ; Day et al, 2003; McGaving, 1993; van Emden & Harrington, 2017), several fungal representatives that damage wheat crops (e.g., Fusarium and Ustilago ; Andrade et al, 1994; Kämper et al, 2006; Nelson et al, 1994), eudicot plants ( Verticillium ; Barbara & Clewes, 2003), and rice ( Magnaporthe grisea ; Talbot, 2003), as well as several bacterial genera that include plant pathogenic representatives, such as Pseudomonas , Erwinia , Dickea and Pectobacterium (Mansfield et al, 2012). Therefore, spider web eDNA could be used for early detection of agricultural pests, even in the absence of disease symptoms, an approach already demonstrated for eDNA from orchards (Guarnaccia et al, 2017; Nicolaisen et al, 2017; Valentin et al, 2018).…”