How to translate text using browser tools
1 February 2009 Mite-Mediated Hyperphoretic Dispersal of Ophiostoma spp. from the Infructescences of South African Protea spp.
F. Roets, P. W. Crous, M. J. Wingfield, L. L. Dreyer
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Ophiostomatoid fungi are well known as economically important pathogens and agents of timber degradation. A unique assemblage of these arthropod-associated organisms including species of Gondwanamyces G. J. Marais and M. J. Wingf., and Ophiostoma Syd. and P. Syd. occur in the floral heads (infructescences) of Protea L. species in South Africa. It has recently been discovered that Ophiostoma found in Protea flower-heads are vectored by mites (Acarina) including species of: Tarsonemus Canestrini and Fonzago, Proctolaelaps Berlese, and Trichouropoda Berlese. It is, however, not known how the mites carry the fungi between host plants. In this study, we consider two possible modes of mite dispersal. These include self-dispersal between infructescences and dispersal through insect vectors. Results showed that, as infructescences desiccate, mites self-disperse to fresh moist infructescences. Long-range dispersal is achieved through a phoretic association with three beetle species: Genuchus hottentottus (F.), Trichostetha fascicularis L., and T. capensis L. The long-range, hyperphoretic dispersal of O. splendens G. J. Marais and M. J. Wingf. and O. phasma Roets et al. seemed effective, because their hosts were colonized during the first flowering season 3–4 yr after fire.

© 2009 Entomological Society of America
F. Roets, P. W. Crous, M. J. Wingfield, and L. L. Dreyer "Mite-Mediated Hyperphoretic Dispersal of Ophiostoma spp. from the Infructescences of South African Protea spp.," Environmental Entomology 38(1), 143-152, (1 February 2009). https://doi.org/10.1603/022.038.0118
Received: 2 November 2007; Accepted: 1 March 2008; Published: 1 February 2009
JOURNAL ARTICLE
10 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
fungal transmission
ophiostomatoid fungi
phoresy
Tarsonemus
vector
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top