Melo Silva, A.F.de, Kuster, V.C., Rezende, U.C., & de Oliveira, D.C. 2019 The early developmental stages of gall-inducing insects define final gall structural and histochemical profiles:the case of Bystracoccus mataybae galls on Matayba guianensis. Botany 97: 427–438

Keywords:

  • chemistry
  • histology
  • host plants
  • Notes: We investigated whether the structural and histochemical profiles of the gall system Matayba guianensis Aubl. (Sapindaceae) – Bystracoccus mataybae (Eriococcidae) are dependent on the instars of the galling insect. Standard anatomical analyses were carried out, as well as histochemical evaluation of reactive oxygen species and primary and secondary metabolites. Structural changes induced by the first instar nymphs were detected on the stem, while deep changes induced by the second instar nymphs and adult females were detected in leaflet galls, indicating that the host-plant tissue can impose more limits on gall development and complexity than the stages of galling insect development.