ArticleAnnals of botany2020
Leaf trichomes in Metrosideros polymorpha can contribute to avoiding extra water stress by impeding gall formation.
Article in Annals of botany, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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6 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Sclerophyllous structural and chemical traits of mite-induced galls on Crinodendron patagua (Elaeocarpaceae) leaves.Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany) · 2026Article
- Adaptive Structural and Transcriptional Responses Contribute to Cold Tolerance Variation in Xinluzhong 61 and Tahe 2 Cotton Cultivars.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Integrated analysis of physiological responses and transcriptional regulation in kiwifruit under high temperature.BMC plant biology · 2025Article
- Rapid Loss of Nutritional Symbionts in an Endemic Hawaiian Herbivore Radiation Is Associated with Plant Galling Habit.Molecular biology and evolution · 2024Article
- How does the life cycle of Clinodiplosis profusa (Cecidomyiidae) adjust to phenological variations of the host plant Eugenia uniflora (Myrtaceae) in sun and shade?Die Naturwissenschaften · 2024Article
- Hawaiian Treeline Ecotones: Implications for Plant Community Conservation under Climate Change.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimsPlants inhabiting arid environments tend to have leaf trichomes, but their adaptive significance remains unclear. Leaf trichomes are known to play a role in plant defence against herbivores, including gall makers. Because gall formation can increase water loss partly through increased surface area, we tested the novel hypothesis that leaf trichomes could contribute to avoiding extra water stress by impeding gall formation, which would have adaptive advantages in arid environments.
methodsWe focused on Metrosideros polymorpha, an endemic tree species in the Hawaiian Islands, whose leaves often suffer from galls formed by specialist insects, Hawaiian psyllids (Pariaconus spp.). There is large variation in the amount of leaf trichomes (0-40 % of leaf mass) in M. polymorpha. Three gall types are found on the island of Hawaii: the largest is the 'cone' type, followed by 'flat' and 'pit' types. We conducted laboratory experiments to quantify the extent to which gall formation is associated with leaf water relations. We also conducted a field census of 1779 individuals from 48 populations across the entire range of habitats of M. polymorpha on the island of Hawaii to evaluate associations between gall formation (presence and abundance) and the amount of leaf trichomes. KEY
resultsOur laboratory experiment showed that leaf minimum conductance was significantly higher in leaves with a greater number of cone- or flat-type galls but not pit-type galls. Our field census suggested that the amount of trichomes was negatively associated with probabilities of the presence of cone- or flat-type galls but not pit-type galls, irrespective of environmental factors.
conclusionOur results suggest that leaf trichomes in M. polymorpha can contribute to the avoidance of extra water stress through interactions with some gall-making species, and potentially increase the fitness of plants under arid conditions.
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