Structural Particularities of Gall Neoformations Induced by <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> in the Leaves of <i>Buxus sempervirens</i>

The boxwood leafminer <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) has historically been considered a leafminer, but some researchers suggested it induced galls on <i>Buxus</i> species leaves. The larvae of <i>M. flavus</i> create small blister-like gall...

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Main Authors: Irina Neta Gostin, Irinel Eugen Popescu, Cristian Felix Blidar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/453
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author Irina Neta Gostin
Irinel Eugen Popescu
Cristian Felix Blidar
author_facet Irina Neta Gostin
Irinel Eugen Popescu
Cristian Felix Blidar
author_sort Irina Neta Gostin
collection DOAJ
description The boxwood leafminer <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) has historically been considered a leafminer, but some researchers suggested it induced galls on <i>Buxus</i> species leaves. The larvae of <i>M. flavus</i> create small blister-like galls on <i>Buxus sempervirens</i> leaves, causing tissue hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Histological examination reveals that <i>M. flavus</i> larvae cause the formation of small blister galls, which involve tissue reorganization in the mesophyll. Unlike typical leafminers, which only disrupt existing tissues, <i>M. flavus</i> induces the appearance of a neo-formed tissue, near the larval chamber. This tissue, originating primarily from spongy parenchyma cells, significantly increases as the leaf thickens. Various histochemical analyses show that the new tissue contains starch, lipids, terpenes, and proteins, providing evidence of reprogramming in the plant’s metabolism. The study concludes that <i>M. flavus</i> induces rudimentary galls, not simply mines, due to the formation of new tissue, whose cells have cytological characteristics distinct from those found in non-galled leaves. However, despite some gall-like features, it does not create new vascular elements, distinguishing it from more complex galls formed by other gall-inducing species.
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spelling doaj-art-301b3f640db94de2bd8ba6ac077ea9972025-08-20T03:12:35ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-02-0114345310.3390/plants14030453Structural Particularities of Gall Neoformations Induced by <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> in the Leaves of <i>Buxus sempervirens</i>Irina Neta Gostin0Irinel Eugen Popescu1Cristian Felix Blidar2Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Bdul Carol I, No. 11, 700506 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Bdul Carol I, No. 11, 700506 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Informatics and Sciences, University of Oradea, Street Universităţii No. 1, 410087 Oradea, RomaniaThe boxwood leafminer <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) has historically been considered a leafminer, but some researchers suggested it induced galls on <i>Buxus</i> species leaves. The larvae of <i>M. flavus</i> create small blister-like galls on <i>Buxus sempervirens</i> leaves, causing tissue hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Histological examination reveals that <i>M. flavus</i> larvae cause the formation of small blister galls, which involve tissue reorganization in the mesophyll. Unlike typical leafminers, which only disrupt existing tissues, <i>M. flavus</i> induces the appearance of a neo-formed tissue, near the larval chamber. This tissue, originating primarily from spongy parenchyma cells, significantly increases as the leaf thickens. Various histochemical analyses show that the new tissue contains starch, lipids, terpenes, and proteins, providing evidence of reprogramming in the plant’s metabolism. The study concludes that <i>M. flavus</i> induces rudimentary galls, not simply mines, due to the formation of new tissue, whose cells have cytological characteristics distinct from those found in non-galled leaves. However, despite some gall-like features, it does not create new vascular elements, distinguishing it from more complex galls formed by other gall-inducing species.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/453anatomyCecidomyiidaehistochemistrygall inducerleafmicroscopy
spellingShingle Irina Neta Gostin
Irinel Eugen Popescu
Cristian Felix Blidar
Structural Particularities of Gall Neoformations Induced by <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> in the Leaves of <i>Buxus sempervirens</i>
Plants
anatomy
Cecidomyiidae
histochemistry
gall inducer
leaf
microscopy
title Structural Particularities of Gall Neoformations Induced by <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> in the Leaves of <i>Buxus sempervirens</i>
title_full Structural Particularities of Gall Neoformations Induced by <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> in the Leaves of <i>Buxus sempervirens</i>
title_fullStr Structural Particularities of Gall Neoformations Induced by <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> in the Leaves of <i>Buxus sempervirens</i>
title_full_unstemmed Structural Particularities of Gall Neoformations Induced by <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> in the Leaves of <i>Buxus sempervirens</i>
title_short Structural Particularities of Gall Neoformations Induced by <i>Monarthropalpus flavus</i> in the Leaves of <i>Buxus sempervirens</i>
title_sort structural particularities of gall neoformations induced by i monarthropalpus flavus i in the leaves of i buxus sempervirens i
topic anatomy
Cecidomyiidae
histochemistry
gall inducer
leaf
microscopy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/3/453
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