A gall mite,Aceria rhodiolae(Acari: Eriophyidae), altering the phytochemistry of a medicinal plant,Rhodiola rosea(Crassulaceae), in the Canadian Arctic

Abstract

The eriophyid mite Aceria rhodiolae (G. Canestrini) is known to induce galls on the flowers and leaves of roseroot, Rhodiola rosea L., in subarctic and alpine regions of Europe. After discovering galls on the inflorescences of roseroot in Nunavik (Québec), northeastern Canada, we examined the mites extracted from the galls and compared them with specimens of A. rhodiolae from Europe. Through morphological analyses, we demonstrate that the mites from galls in Nunavik are conspecific with A. rhodiolae from Europe. We then provide a detailed redescription of the mite species based on the morphology of adult females and males from Canada and Europe, using a combination of standard light microscopy, confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Because roseroot is wellknown for its medicinal properties, we tested the hypothesis that roseroot galled by the mite had altered phytochemistry, by using salidroside and rosavins as indicators. Our results show a significant reduction of almost half in salidroside content (45.8%), but not in rosavins. Moreover, because the mite sometimes affects most or all of the inflorescence of R. rosea, it can considerably reduce the production of seeds. We also show that A. rhodiolae is widespread along the Ungava Bay (Nunavik), with 31.5% of 92 sites surveyed having at least a few to numerous plants galled. Given the importance of roseroot as a crop for Inuit communities and as medicinal products used by them and other Canadians, and also in view of the commonness of A. rhodiolae in the Canadian Arctic and its broad distribution in Europe, the impact of the mite and its relationship with roseroot should be examined further in Nunavik and elsewhere.

A new method of gall mite management: application of artificial defoliation to control Aceria pallida

“…For example, the gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu could reduce the yield of Castanea sativa Mill. by as much as 80% (Battisti et al, 2014); the gall mite Aceria rhodiolae (Canestrini) could decrease the medicinal quality (salidroside) of Rhodiola rosea L. by over 50% (Beaulieu et al, 2016). Gall-maker larvae acquire nutrition and shelter from plant galls to complete their development (Price, Fernandes & Waring, 1987; Stone & Schönrogge, 2003); therefore, the defoliation and desiccation of plant galls is deadly to these arthropod herbivores.…”

Three new species of eriophyoid mites (Acariformes, Eriophyoidea) from Lippia alba (Verbenaceae) from Brazil, and remarks on the thorn-like spermathecal process

“…Recently Beaulieu et al (2015) showed phytochemistry alterations in a medicinal plant, roseroot (Rhodiola rosea L.), due to eriophyoid mite infestation, the gall mite Aceria rhodiolae (Canestrini 1892). These authors used salidroside and rosavins as indicators and observed a significant reduction of almost half in salidroside content (45.8%), but not in rosavins.…”

<p class="Body">TOWARDS AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO TAXONOMY OF ERIOPHYOIDEA (ACARI, PROSTIGMATA) - AN OVERVIEW

“…In many species juvenile instars, dimorph adult forms or males were not described, so they are described afterwards. Additional descriptions and/or redescriptions can be found in following papers: Skoracka et al (2004), Chetverikov (2011), Vidović (2011), Beaulieu et al (2015, Chetverikov et al (2014a), Flechtmann et al (2015, and Xue et al (2015). The impact of slide mounting practice (with or without fibers) on the appearance of the shield pattern was emphasized as an example of possible erroneous conclusions on mite identification (Denizhan et al 2008).…”