Abstract
Arceuthobium azoricum Wiens & Hawksw. is a rare Azorean endemic epiphytic hemiparasite (mistletoe), which typically parasitizes branches of the gymnosperm Juniperus brevifolia (Hochst. ex Seub.) Antoine (Cupressaceae), which is also an Azorean endemic. Here, we describe a population of A. azoricum, on Pico Island, parasitizing Erica azorica Hochst. ex Seub. (Ericaceae), which is also an Azorean endemic. Our molecular analysis (using nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer) showed no differences between individuals parasitizing Erica and Juniperus species. Moreover, a preliminary analysis showed no differences in morphological characteristics between accessions sampled from different hosts. Given that this is the first bona fide record of Arceuthobium sp. parasitizing an angiosperm, this population represents a unique host-shifting event, and its conservation is important because it may allow new insights into host recognition mechanisms in mistletoes. Immediate attention should be given to characterizing this Pico Island population using appropriate molecular methods and additional morphological analyses.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
A Pico Island population of A. azoricum parasitized Erica azorica.
- Taxon
- A. azoricum
Arceuthobium azoricume0 - Interactor
- Erica azorica Hochst. ex Seub.
_near_Ponta_dos_Rosais%2C_S%C3%A3o_Jorge%2C_Azores%2C_Portgual_(PPL3-Altered)_julesvernex2.jpg?width=60)
Erica azoricae0host - Outcome
- parasitizing Erica azorica Hochst. ex Seub.e0
- Setting
- Pico Islande0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_near_Ponta_dos_Rosais%2C_S%C3%A3o_Jorge%2C_Azores%2C_Portgual_(PPL3-Altered)_julesvernex2.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“a population of A. azoricum, on Pico Island, parasitizing Erica azorica Hochst. ex Seub.”
Claim · model-written summary
Nuclear ribosomal ITS showed no differences between parasites on Erica and Juniperus.
- Taxon
- A. azoricumArceuthobium azoricumt0
- Interactor
- Ericae0host
- Outcome
- no differencese0
- Direction
- no differencese0
- Comparator
- individuals parasitizing Erica and Juniperus speciese0
JuniperusOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“no differences between individuals parasitizing Erica and Juniperus species”
t0“A. azoricum”
Claim · model-written summary
Preliminary morphology showed no differences between accessions from different hosts.
- Taxon
- A. azoricumArceuthobium azoricumt0
- Material
- accessionse0
- Outcome
- morphological characteristicse0
- Direction
- no differencese0
- Comparator
- different hostse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“no differences in morphological characteristics between accessions sampled from different hosts”
t0“A. azoricum”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors regarded the population as the first bona fide Arceuthobium record on an angiosperm and a unique host shift.
- Taxon
- Arceuthobium sp.
Arceuthobiume0 - Outcome
- first bona fide record of Arceuthobium sp. parasitizing an angiosperme0
- Qualifier
- unique host-shifting evente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the first bona fide record of Arceuthobium sp. parasitizing an angiosperm, this population represents a unique host-shifting event”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend molecular and morphological characterization of the Pico Island population.
- Taxon
- A. azoricumArceuthobium azoricumt0
- Outcome
- characterizing this Pico Island population using appropriate molecular methods and additional morphological analysese0
- Setting
- Pico Islande0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Immediate attention should be given to characterizing this Pico Island population using appropriate molecular methods and additional morphological analyses”
t0“A. azoricum”