| Title: | Extreme acidity in a cynipid gall: a potential new defensive strategy against natural enemies |
| Author(s): | Guiguet A; McCartney NB; Gilbert KJ; Tooker JF; Deans AR; Ali JG; Hines HM; |
| Address: | "Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA. Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA. Center for Chemical Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA. W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, MI 49060, USA. Department of Plant Biology, Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1744-957X (Electronic) 1744-9561 (Print) 1744-9561 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The morphology of insect-induced galls contributes to defences of the gall-inducing insect species against its natural enemies. In terms of gall chemistry, the only defensive compounds thus far identified in galls are tannins that accumulate in many galls, preventing damage by herbivores. Intrigued by the fruit-like appearance of the translucent oak gall (TOG; Amphibolips nubilipennis, Cynipidae, Hymenoptera) induced on red oak (Quercus rubra), we hypothesized that its chemical composition may deviate from other galls. We found that the pH of the gall is between 2 and 3, making it among the lowest pH levels found in plant tissues. We examined the organic acid content of TOG and compared it to fruits and other galls using high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Malic acid, an acid with particularly high abundance in apples, represents 66% of the organic acid detected in TOGs. The concentration of malic acid was two times higher than in other galls and in apples. Gall histology showed that the acid-containing cells were enlarged and vacuolized just like fruits mesocarp cells. Accumulation of organic acid in gall tissues is convergent with fruit morphology and may constitute a new defensive strategy against predators and parasitoids" |
| Keywords: | *Malates Fruit Herbivory *Quercus Cynipidae Quercus chemical defence gall pH; |
| Notes: | "MedlineGuiguet, Antoine McCartney, Nathaniel B Gilbert, Kadeem J Tooker, John F Deans, Andrew R Ali, Jared G Hines, Heather M eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2023/03/02 Biol Lett. 2023 Mar; 19(3):20220513. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0513. Epub 2023 Mar 1" |
