Abstract
In some regions of the Deltaic Mediterranean coastal land of Egypt, Baldratia salicorniae Kieffer, 1897 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is a gall-forming insect that induces fleshy galls on the stem of Salicornia fruticosa (L.) L. (Family: Amaranthaceae). the current study tried to investigate the interaction of B. salicorniae with its host plant S. fruticosa in some regions of the Mediterranean coast and study the effect of altitude and vegetation cover on galls induction. In addition, to estimate the predicted geographic distribution habitats of B. salicorniae and its host plant S. fruticosa in Egypt by using MaxEnt technique.
Highlights
Many organisms can stimulate plant tissues to form a diversity of abnormal swellings on leaves, flowers, stems, and roots
According to the plant vigor hypothesis, that more energetic, potent, fastgrowing plants will be prioritized by several types of herbivores that depend on high meristematic activity, where the gall inducers usually prefer fast-growing and large plant organs, such as shoots and leaves (Price, 1991)
The current study showed that the stem of S. fruticosa is the most vital organ of the plant subjected to galls induction
Summary
Many organisms can stimulate plant tissues to form a diversity of abnormal swellings on leaves, flowers, stems, and roots The presence of these structures, known as galls (Barbosa and Wagner, 1989). Galls are abnormal plant growths consisting of pathologically developed cells, tissues, or plant organs, resulting mostly from overgrowth (hypertrophy) and cell proliferation (hyperplasy) (Santos et al, 2018, Ascendino and Maia, 2018). These are initiated by organisms such as fungi, bacteria, nematodes, mites, viruses, and insects (Barbosa and Wagner, 1989). Gallinducing insects benefit from nutrition, assurance, and shelter provided by the plant galls (Ascendino and Maia, 2018)
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