Wirtsselektivität gallinduzierender Pflanzenwespen (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae) an Weiden (Salix spp.): die Bedeutung von Phänotyp und Genotyp im Salix alba/S. fragilis-Komplex für die Belegung mit Gallen
DFG DFG GRK 678/1 Projekt 11
From 01/2001 to 05/2006Principal Investigator: Gerhard Rambold
Staff: Alexandra Kehl
A. Kehl and G. Rambold have contributed to understanding the interactions between Pontania proxima (now classified under the genus Euura) and willow species (Salix), as well as examining the traits that distinguish Salix × rubens from its parental species. One study investigated the influence of host plant morphology and phenology on P. proxima. The results showed that physical characteristics and the timing of leaf development significantly shaped the abundance and distribution of galls induced by the sawfly. Another study explored the role of floral scent in host selection by leaf-galling sawflies, finding that volatiles emitted by Salix flowers may guide sawflies to suitable oviposition sites. These findings underscore the importance of plant traits and environmental cues in shaping host-pest dynamics. In a separate research effort, Kehl and colleagues examined Salix × rubens, a hybrid between Salix alba and Salix fragilis. They analyzed phenotypic traits, including leaf morphology, phenology, and growth patterns, alongside nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. The study demonstrated that S. × rubens exhibits unique secondary compound profiles and intermediate morphological traits. Notably, the hybrid starts foliation earlier than its parents, which may contribute to its increased growth and distribution. Together, these studies highlight how plant traits influence ecological interactions and help define hybrid identities within the Salix genus.