Two mistletoes are too many?: Interspecific occurrence of mistletoes on the same host tree

Abstract

Mistletoe can have a major impact on the fi tness of the host plant. If there is more than one species of mistletoe on the same host tree, the overall impact might be amplifi ed. We report the occurrence of more than one species of mistletoe on the same host tree. Although it is not a rule in the fi eld, to our knowledge, there have been no studies of this topic. In most cases, two species of mistletoe were recorded on the same host tree, although we recorded three species of mistletoe on one occasion. Th is demonstrates that diff erent species of mistletoe can be compatible with the same host species. Th erefore, compatibility (structural and physiological) might be an important factor for the occurrence of mistletoe. Recent studies have shown that if the mistletoe does not "recognize" the host species, the deposited seeds will germinate but the haustorium will not penetrate the host branch. Th is is probably the primary mechanism in the establishment of more than one species of mistletoe on the same host, which can trigger a cascade of harmful eff ects for the host species.

Competition and facilitation determine dwarf mistletoe infection dynamics

“…; Arruda et al . ) and their role on interaction networks (Genini et al . ); but an analysis of their interactions and coexistence mechanisms is still lacking.…”

Biomonitoring of metals for air pollution assessment using a hemiepiphyte herb (Struthanthus flexicaulis)

“…The herb uses its haustorii to attach itself to the host tree, from which it absorbs water and mineral nutrients. They transport these materials through the vascular tissues, such as xylem and phloem (Arruda et al, 2013;Mourão et al, 2009;Reif, 2007;Rotta, 2004). Similarly, the Struthanthus flexicaulis herb is also considered to be parasitic because birds feeding from its seeds contribute to its spread.…”

Aspectos anatômicos e funcionais da interação entre duas espécies do gênero Phoradendron (Santalaceae) e suas hospedeiras

“…Phoradendron e à variedade de interações entre essas espécies e suas hospedeiras, é possível afirmar que apenas uma pequena parte desta diversidade está contemplada na literatura. Como usualmente ocorre em outros campos da Botânica, as espécies neotropicais são as menos estudadas quanto às relações que estabelecem com suas hospedeiras (Arruda et al 2013) e poucos trabalhos, como o de Thoday (1957) e , apresentam uma abordagem comparativa.…”

“…Este número de espécies encontra-se disperso por todo o continente americano, sendo a região da América do Sul o principal centro de diversificação do grupo . No Brasil, suas espécies distribuem-se por todos os biomas do país (Arruda et al 2013).…”

“…Still, regarding the studies that employ traditional plant anatomy procedures, the literature is scarce for some of the clades of parasitic plants, given their great diversity and number, which represents around 1% of all extant Angiosperms (Westwood et al 2010). Considering clades of the neotropical region, the lack of studies is even greater (Arruda et al 2013). This is the case of the genus Phoradendron, which comprises ca.…”