Morphological injury of cut-leaf teasel, Dipsacus laciniatus L. (Dipsacaceae) induced by the eriophyid mite Leipothrix dipsacivagus Petanovic et Rector (Acari: Eriophyoidea)

Abstract

The eriophyid mite Leipothrix dipsacivagus Petanovic et Rector provokes severe malformations to its host plant, cut-leaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus L.), in the field. These injuries were examined at the morpho-anatomical level in infested plants collected in the field and experimentally infested plants kept under controlled laboratory conditions. A number of symptoms were observed including reduced growth, internode shortening, leaf rolling and wrinkling, and shrunken inflorescences. After severe attack, the leaves of bolted plants became chlorotic with necrotic spots and started to wilt. Young rosettes died. Morphometric analysis revealed significant differences between infested and healthy field-collected bolting plants. Infested plants were significantly shorter than healthy plants, with smaller leaves and flower heads. Striking injuries were also observed on young leaves of experimentally infested plants. It is expected that further investigations will elucidate the full extent of the damage to aboveground parts of D. laciniatus due to infestation by L. dipsacivagus.