Ana Claudia de Macedo Vieira
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Title: parasitic castration entomógena in neotropical species : models malpighiaceae of salt marshes
Biography
Biography: Ana Claudia de Macedo Vieira
Abstract
Plant reproductive organs are considered very sensitive to the action of midges and depending on the induced change level, leads to parasitic castration phenomenon causing the prevention of sexual reproduction of plants. Few models of floral galls have been described for neotropical regions, however, the salt marshes of Marica and Grumari, State of Rio de Janeiro, were recorded and described floral galls on Byrsonima sericea DC. and Niedenzuella acutifolia (Cav.) W.R.Anderson (Malpighiaceae). In B. sericea has identified the occurrence of three floral galls. induced by insects. In the gall-induced Diptera larvae developed in the pocket by inhibiting the development of pollen and ovules. In galls induced Lepidoptera, the larva settles on pedicel, excavating the central bud, preventing the formation of the pistil. In the third gall, the larval chamber is formed at the apex of the floral button receptacle, leading to no training in their reproductive structures. In all, the cup and the corolla form ,with varying degrees of atrophy in each type of gall. N. acutifolia occur two floral galls. In galls induced by Diptera, the pistil hypertrophy, forming sheetlike structures where there are the larval chambers. In other galls, only the cup develops and sepals are welded, forming a chamber and no other whorl forms. In the five galls analyzed, changes in varying
degrees in the differentiation of floral structures led to parasitic castration, because none of the flower buds affected by midges are able to complete its development, affecting the reproductive success.