The effect of gall mites (Acariformes, Eriophyoidea) on leaf morphology and pigment content of deciduous trees in West Siberia

Abstract

Phytophagous mites of the superfamily Eriophyoidea are capable of inducing gall formation on various organs of higher vascular plants. However, the question of how gallogenesis affects leaf assimilation surface and photosynthetic activity of the host plants is poorly understood. We have examined the influence of gall-forming mites from the genera Eriophyes and Acalitus on leaf size, shape and photosynthetic pigment content in five deciduous tree species near the city of Tyumen, West Siberia. The gall mite infestation resulted in chlorosis, destruction of photosynthetic apparatus in gall-infected leaf parts, leaf deformation and a decrease in leaf area. The magnitude of the effects on leaf size and shape varied among the studied mite–tree systems and did not depend on the infection severity. On the contrary, chlorophyll and carotenoid amounts per leaf decreased in an infection severity-dependent manner in all mite–host plant variants. Mite-induced galls did not influence the pigment concentration in green uninfected gaps between galls. Additionally, the chlorophyll amount in the infected leaves has decreased due to the destruction of the pigment complex in the galled leaf areas and a decrease of the whole-leaf area. As a result, the losses of chlorophylls and carotenoids in leaves of all studied trees were directly related to the infection severity (quantified as the proportion of damaged leaf area to the total leaf area). Our results may help developing an approach to assess the effect of gall mites on the chlorophyll content and the photosynthetic productivity of trees, based on the direct or remote analysis of damaged leaf surface.

A New Webbing Aberoptus Species from South Africa Provides Insight in Silk Production in Gall Mites (Eriophyoidea)

“…A similar way for excreting the silk through the anal opening is known in males of a single pseudoscorpion taxon (Serianus sp.) possessing an endodermal rectal pocket secreting silk Leg I 31 (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33), tarsus 5 (4-5), with short terminal spine medial to basis of ta solenidion, u' about 0.5, ft' not visible, probably absent, ft'' 19 (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23), ω 9 (8-10) w small spherical knob; empodium I commonly shaped, 6 (6-7), 4-or (rarely) 5-rayed rays except the terminal pair with one additional subray; tibia 6 (5-6) with medioante spatulate projection partially covering tarsus, l' 30 (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34); genu I fused with femur I fo ing an entire large compound segment, 15 (13)(14)(15)(16), l'' 24 (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28), bv 6 (5)(6)(7)(8).…”

“…Eriophyoids are morphologically simplified microscopic mites with an elongated body, two pairs of legs, and needle-like stylets which they use for piercing plant cells and sucking the cell sap [28]. Due to their ability to vector viruses, induce gallogenesis, and affect the photosynthetic efficiency and primary metabolite production in plant tissues, many species of Eriophyoidea are economically important pests of crops [29][30][31]. Members of the four eriophyoid genera, Aberoptus, Aceria, Cisaberoptus, and Aculops have been found living under silk-like webbing (Figure 1) which they produce on their host plants, usually along leaf veins and on petioles [32,33].…”

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“…There are some singular studies that consider the real influence of these mites and the changes that occur in plants when they interact. As noted by L.A. Ivanova et al (2022), the gall mite infestation resulted in chlorosis, destruction of photosynthetic apparatus in gall-infected leaf parts, leaf deforma-tion, and a decrease in leaf area. Such a factor as a variety can affect the population of four-legged mites.…”

Molecular Aspects of Gall Formation Induced by Mites and Insects

“…Nevertheless, in the case of mite gallogenesis, there are morphological and physiological data that indicate significant destruction of the photosynthetic apparatus (reduction in leaf area, a decrease in the chlorophyll and carotenoid content per unit of leaf area and per whole leaf), and inhibition of the process of photosynthesis [ 74 , 75 ]. At the same time, the formation of multiple mite galls on a leaf does not affect the concentration of chlorophyll or, apparently, the intensity of photosynthesis in the areas of the same leaf between galls that are unaffected by galling [ 76 ]. The photosynthetic activity of a leaf depends on both the leaf area and the photosynthesis rate per unit of leaf area.…”

“…The photosynthetic activity of a leaf depends on both the leaf area and the photosynthesis rate per unit of leaf area. In several mite–host tree systems, the variation of unaffected leaf area depends on the particular mite–tree system in a severity-independent manner, whereas chlorophyll and carotenoid content in infested leaves directly correlates with the infection severity [ 76 ]. This represents the evidence of a complex mechanism of gall influence on photosynthesis in infested leaves.…”