Aceria lantanae is a phytophagous mite commonly observed inducing galls in Lantana camara leaves. The comparative study of histological and histometric characteristics, during the ontogenesis of leaves and galls, aims to determine which of the healthy tissues morphogenetic events are altered by the galling herbivore. Leaf ontogenetical events of L. camara followed the pattern described in literature. Gall induction causes hyperplasia of epidermis and ground system. At growth and development stage, leaf lamina invagination gives rise to the nymphal chamber, where eriophids reproduce. The cell layer limiting this chamber constitutes the nutritive tissue, where inducers feed, and stimulate cell divisions. At the maturation stage, gall increase in size is followed by an increase in the number of A. lantanae individuals. Gall external covering is characterized by a high density of non-glandular trichomes whose morphotype is particular to the galls. The differentiation of emergencies and neoformation of vascular bundles promotes an increase in the flux of food resources to the inducers. Cell divisions in diverse angles alter the laminar pattern of the leaf firstly related to photosynthesis, and result in verrucous galls which guarantee an adequate microenvironment and nutrition source to A. lantanae colony. At senescent stage, nutritive tissue suberization occurs, indicating the end of the inducers feeding activity. The suberization of nutritive tissue indicates the end of cell cycles, an event that may be related to the death of the deutogyne female, or to the limits imposed by the age of L. camara host leaf.
Aceria; development; Lantana; leaf anatomy; plant gall
