Plant galls induced by insects: Coordinated developmental reprogramming and defence manipulation.

Curr Opin Plant Biol

Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3, 1030, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Biocenter PhD Program, A Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna, A-1030, Vienna, Austria.

Published: August 2025


Category Ranking

98%

Total Visits

921

Avg Visit Duration

2 minutes

Citations

20

Article Abstract

Galls, especially those induced by insects, represent one of the most dramatic examples of plant developmental reprogramming, combining complex de novo organogenesis with compromised defence. Insect-induced galls are not just a fascinating natural phenomenon but a unique system for future discoveries in developmental biology, plant defence, and evolutionary ecology. Gall development is under the control of their insect manipulators and in sync with insect growth to provide tailored nutritive and protective environments. But this alone does not explain the huge diversity in their morphology which evolved within complex ecological niches. In this review, we summarise recent findings in this underexplored field and examine the defining features of insect-induced galls compared to non-gall herbivores, microbial gall inducers, and symbionts. By exploring commonalities and differences in developmental reprogramming, defence and nutrition, we highlight the uniqueness of insect-induced galls and their potential for discoveries in plant biology.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102757DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

developmental reprogramming
12
insect-induced galls
12
galls induced
8
induced insects
8
reprogramming defence
8
plant
4
plant galls
4
insects coordinated
4
developmental
4
coordinated developmental
4

Similar Publications

Dynamic Interaction of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells with Other Cell Types in the Central Nervous System.

Neurochem Int

September 2025

Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address:

Traditionally, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) were primarily regarded for their differentiation potential to mature oligodendrocytes that ensheath central nervous system (CNS) axons through myelin formation. Recent breakthroughs in single-cell sequencing and in vivo imaging technologies have revolutionized our understanding, revealing that OPCs engage in extensive dynamic interactions with diverse CNS cell populations during neurodevelopment, tissue homeostasis maintenance, and pathological microenvironment remodeling. Notably, while OPCs exhibit relatively conserved phenotypic signatures, their functional plasticity within heterogeneous microenvironments demonstrates significant spatial specificity and disease-context dependence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cancer Neuroscience: Decoding Neural Circuitry in Tumor Evolution for Targeted Therapy.

Adv Sci (Weinh)

September 2025

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, Medical College, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.

Recent breakthroughs in tumor biology have redefined the tumor microenvironment as a dynamic ecosystem in which the nervous system has emerged as a pivotal regulator of oncogenesis. In addition to their classical developmental roles, neural‒tumor interactions orchestrate a sophisticated network that drives cancer initiation, stemness maintenance, metabolic reprogramming, and therapeutic evasion. This crosstalk operates through multimodal mechanisms, including paracrine signaling, electrophysiological interactions, and structural innervation guided by axon-derived guidance molecules.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Immune cells are increasingly recognized as nutrient sensors; however, their developmental role in regulating growth under homeostasis or dietary stress remains elusive. Here, we show that Drosophila larval macrophages, in response to excessive dietary sugar (HSD), reprogram their metabolic state by activating glycolysis, thereby enhancing TCA-cycle flux, and increasing lipogenesis-while concurrently maintaining a lipolytic state. Although this immune-metabolic configuration correlates with growth retardation under HSD, our genetic analyses reveal that enhanced lipogenesis supports growth, whereas glycolysis and lipolysis are growth-inhibitory.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bivalve mollusks represent a taxonomically and economically significant clade within Mollusca. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing their embryonic development remain poorly characterized. The dwarf surf clam ( ), characterized by a short generation time and high fecundity, has recently gained recognition as an ideal model system for bivalve embryological research.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Adverse intrauterine environments, such as hyperglycemia, impair sexual reproduction and species continuity, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that intrauterine hyperglycemia significantly disrupted primordial germ cell (PGC) development, especially in female offspring, thus reducing fertility. Using Oct4-EGFP transgenic mice with intrauterine hyperglycemia exposure, we revealed that hyperglycemia compromised sexually specific chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation reprogramming during PGC development.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF