Abstract
Leaf galls induced by a still undescribed new species of Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) are frequent on leaves of Clusia arrudae Planchon & Tirana (Clusiaceae) in the rupestrian fields at 1400 m a.s.l. in Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Galls were 7.1 ± 0.7 mm in diameter, one chambered with only one larva inside. Gall tissue is green and soft. Assessments of photosynthetic capacity using chlorophyll-a fluorescence measurements revealed that photosynthetic performance of gall tissue and healthy leaf tissue were rather similar. Hence, the morphological changes due to gall development were not associated with significant changes in the photosynthetic capacity of the tissue.
Highlights
Herbivore impacts upon plants may range from harmful to positive (Belsky, 1986; Hendrix, 1979; Whitham et al, 1991; Paige and Whitham, 1987; Belsky et al, 1993; Cornelissen and Fernandes, 2001a,b) and vary according to herbivore type (Mattson et al, 1988)
Clusia is the only genus of trees, sensu stricto, which has the Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)
Our hypothesis is that differences in the photosynthetic capacity between health and gall tissues do not exist, corroborating the argument proposed by Price et al (1987) describing the vascular tissue from other parts of the plant as responsible for supplying the nutritional larvae requirements
Summary
Herbivore impacts upon plants may range from harmful to positive (Belsky, 1986; Hendrix, 1979; Whitham et al, 1991; Paige and Whitham, 1987; Belsky et al, 1993; Cornelissen and Fernandes, 2001a,b) and vary according to herbivore type (Mattson et al, 1988). Insect gall growth and maintenance drain resources from the host plant and reduce flower head production. We compared the photosynthetic capacity of galled and healthy leaf tissue of Clusia arrudae Planchon and Tirana (Clusiaceae), measuring chlorophyll-a fluorescence parameters, on site, in the field. Clusia is the only genus of trees, sensu stricto, which has the Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) This special metabolism and the flexibility in the carbon acquisition under varying conditions are considered as ecophysiological advantages. Our hypothesis is that differences in the photosynthetic capacity between health and gall tissues do not exist, corroborating the argument proposed by Price et al (1987) describing the vascular tissue from other parts of the plant as responsible for supplying the nutritional larvae requirements. The habitat where C. arrudae occurs is exposed to a highlight incidence (GWF, unpub. data)
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