Everything about Gall totally explained
Galls or plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of
plant tissues and can be caused by various
parasites, from
fungi and
bacteria, to
insects and
mites. Galls are often very organised structures and because of this, the cause of the gall can often be determined without the actual agent being identified. This applies particularly to some insect and mite galls.
Causes of plant galls
Insects
Insect galls develop under the influence of
gall-inducing insects. Insect galls are usually induced by the chemicals injected by the
larvae or the
adults in the plants, either including mechanical damage or not. After the galls are formed, the larvae develop inside until fully grown, at which time they leave, sometimes as adults. In order to form galls, the insects must seize the time when plant cell division occurs at a high speed, the growing season, usually spring in temperate climates, but which can be extended in tropical latitudes. Also, the specific places where plant cell division occurs are needed to induce galls, that is, the
meristems. Although insect galls can be found on a variety of parts of the plant, such as the leaves,
stalks,
branches,
buds,
roots or even
flowers and
fruits, gall-inducing insects are usually species-specific and sometimes tissue-specific on the plants they gall. Some insects induce galls on plants similar to each other, frequently within genera or family.
Gall-inducing insects include
gall wasps,
gall midges,
aphids, and
psyllids.
Fungi
A gall-inducing fungus is:
Cedar-apple rust
Bacteria and viruses
Crown Gall is an example of a gall-causing bacterium.
Other Plants
Mistletoe can form galls on its hosts
Uses
Galls are rich in resins and
tannic acid and have been used in the manufacture of permanent inks (such as
iron gall ink) and astringent ointments, in
dyeing, and in
tanning. A high-quality ink has long been made from the Aleppo gall, found on oaks in the Middle East; it's one of a number of galls resembling nuts and called "gallnuts" or "nutgalls'. The larvae in galls is useful for a survival food and fishing bait.
Gallery
Image:Diplolepis-rosae.jpg|Rose bedeguar gall on a wild rose in summer.
Image:Diplolepis Quercus01.jpg|Andricus fecundator
Image:Gallwespe bedient sich Eichel2.jpg|Andricus quercuscalicis
Image:Diplolepis Quercus02.jpg|Andricus quercuscalicis
image:Eikengallen op mannelijke bloeiwijze.jpg|Neuroterus albipes forma laeviusculus
Image:Eucalyptus gall.jpg|Eucalyptus leaf gall
Image:Oak Gall.jpg|Andricus kollari oak gall
Image:Cedar apple rust telial form.JPG|Gymnosporangium
Image:Oak marble galls 1.JPG|Oak marble galls, one with a Gall fly exit hole and another with Phoma gallorum fungal attack.
Image:Oak marble gall sectioned.JPG|Sectioned gall showing central 'cell' and inquiline chamber; exit-hole and a possibly parasitised stunted gall specimen.
Image:Pineapple gall.JPG|Pineapple gall on Sitka Spruce caused by Adelges abietis.
Image:Old Pineapple Gall.JPG|An old Pineapple pseudocone gall on a Sitka Spruce branch.
Footnotes
Further Information
Get more info on 'Gall'.
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