Gall mite Fragariocoptes setiger (Eriophyoidea) changes leaf developmental program and regulates gene expression in the leaf tissues of Fragaria viridis (Rosaceae)

Abstract

The interaction of plants with certain types of parasites leads to the formation of galls, organised structures that create the habitat of the parasite, caused by an abnormal proliferation of host plant's cells under the influence of growth regulators, secreted by the parasite, or by the plant itself under the influence of the parasite. Arthropods, mites in particular, are the largest group of gall-inducing phytoparasites, but the mechanisms of their interaction with plants remain virtually unexplored. The interaction of the gall-inducing eriophyoid mite Fragariocoptes setiger with Fragaria viridis plants was used as a model gall-mite system where data were obtained on the changes in the histological structure of F. viridis leaf blades under the influence of the mites as well as F. viridis gene expression during gall formation. For histological purposes, gall formation was split into four stages with each corresponding to the age of the gall as well as to specific changes that occur during that period. A dramatic change of adaxial-abaxial polarity of the lamina throughout the four stages was observed. Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis of F. viridis gene expression in the developing gall revealed changes in the expression levels of certain meristem-specific genes, as well as the genes that determine adaxial-abaxial polarity and signalling of phytohormones. Petersburg State University and the resource centre of the Komarov Botanical Institute of RAS.

An Intimate Relationship Between Eriophyoid Mites and Their Host Plants – A Review

“…In any case, pouched galls result from the de-differentiation of the adjacent parenchymal cells in a meristematic tissue, from the proliferation of epidermal and parenchymal cells, and from the protrusion of neoplasic structures from the organ surfaces (Petanović and Kielkiewicz, 2010a; Chetverikov et al, 2015). These histological reactions are in accordance with the changes induced by Fragariocoptes setiger (Nalepa) in the expression of transcription factors involved in meristem activity, plant hormone secretion, cell mitosis and adaxial–abaxial galled leaf polarity during gall morphogenesis on Fragaria viridis Weston (Paponova et al, 2018), demonstrating a complex biochemical network which has to locally restrain the mite.…”

“…The involvement of IAA and phenolic compounds in gall making mite-plant interactions was pointed out in Co. vitis (Javadi Khederi et al, 2018c), Aceria cherianii (Massee), A. cernuus (Massee) (Balasubramanian and Purushothaman, 1972a,b; Tandon and Arya, 1980; Tandon, 1985), F. setiger (Paponova et al, 2018) and was recently reviewed (Chetverikov et al, 2015). Density of Co. vitis on a highly susceptible cultivar (Sezdang) was positively correlated with IAA content of the infested leaves and mites appeared to benefit when leaf IAA increased more than JA and SA, which were negatively correlated with infestation levels (Javadi Khederi et al, 2018c; Figure 1).…”

Genetic control of regeneration processes of radish plants in vitro: from phenotype to genotype

“…Identification of the role of WOX-CLAVATA systems, as well as other meristem-specific TF in the development of irregular meristem and neoplasm in higher plants has been the central topic of our research team in recent years; a number of priority results were obtained in this direction (Osipova et al, 2012;Azarakhsh et al, 2015;Tvorogova et al, 2018a), including data on the meristem-like nature of plant tumors of different origin and the participation of meristem-specific TF in their development (Lebedeva et al, 2015;Paponova et al, 2017;Samorodova et al, 2018).…”

Molecular Aspects of Gall Formation Induced by Mites and Insects

“…It is not yet known whether these stimuli are simply repeats of the primary stimulus or whether they have a different nature, (e.g., the inducing effect of the parasite’s saliva being followed by the effect of its excrement or some other factor(s)). Recent molecular studies of changes in the pattern of gene expression during the development of galls induced by eriophyoid mites and hymenopteran insects indirectly support the multistep nature of leaf gallogenesis [ 15 , 16 ]. These two works will be considered in the next section of our review.…”

“…The present paper differs from a recent review on the molecular aspects of insect galling [ 3 ] in several ways. Those authors considered galls induced by Diptera, Hemiptera, and Lepidoptera, but not those induced by Hymenoptera and eriophyoid mites, although relevant molecular data were available, e.g., [ 15 , 16 ]. Progress to a broader and deeper understanding of gallogenesis requires the discussion of molecular data gained from the maximum possible number of arthropod groups.…”