Journal of agriculture & life science (농업생명과학연구)

Institute of Agriculture & Life Science, Gyeongsang National University (경상대학교 농업생명과학연구원)
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Life on Leaves: Which Type of Domatia in Cornus Species is Most Preferred by Foliar Mites?

  • Ngondya, Issakwisa Bernard (Dept. of Forest Resources, College of Agriculture, Graduate School of Industry, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Kim, Bong-Gyu (Bio/Molecular Informatics Center (BMIC), Konkok University) ;
  • Ibrahim, Rashid Ismael Hag (Dept. of Horticulture, College of Life Sci. and Natural Res., Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology)
  • Received : 2011.03.08
  • Accepted : 2011.06.23
  • Published : 2011.06.30
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Abstract

In this study three types of domatia; Tuft (T), Pocket-Tuft (PT) and Pocket (P) were observed on some species of the genus Cornus. Cornus officinalis Sieb & Zuee and C. florida Linnaeus possess T type, C. controversa Hemsl and C. walteri Wangerin possess PT type while C. alba Linnaeus possess P type. A total of 120 leaves were investigated for foliar mite's population. T type domatia was the habitat of 329 mites (48.89%), followed by PT type where 198 mites (29.41%) were found, and the least favored was the P type domatia that accommodated 146 mites (21.70%) out of 673 mites in total. The mean number of mites per domatia was $8({\pm}0.22)$, $4({\pm}0.95)$ and $3({\pm}0.70)$ for T, PT and P type, respectively. The alternative hypothesis that foliar mites prefer T type domatia as a habitat than PT and P type domatia was accepted based on these findings at a probability of P<0.05. Thus, it was concluded that foliar mites prefer T type domatia than the other two types. This could be due to the nature and efficiency of T type domatia in ensuring mites protection from predators and unfriendly environmental conditions. Therefore, the presence of denser tufts lowers the risks of predation and unfriendly environmental conditions and results in a higher number of mites.

Keywords

References

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