<i>Dasineura asteriae</i> Reprograms the Flower Gene Expressions of Vegetative Organs to Create Flower‐Like Gall in <i>Aster scaber</i>
Plant galls are abnormal growing tissues induced by various parasitic organisms, exhibiting diverse and complex morphologies. Typically, these galls differ significantly in appearance from their host plants. Here, we report that larvae of a parasitic fly generate unique, rosette galls on Aster scaber, a perennial herb. These galls develop from vegetative organs after the larvae reprogram floral gene expression. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we conducted whole-genome sequencing and transcriptome analysis. Our findings reveal that the larvae induce host organ dedifferentiation into an amorphous callus, activate floral genes, and selectively suppress genes associated with carpel development. As a result, the pseudoflowers consist solely of tepal-like leaflets and a specialized chamber, and the larvae influence pigment biosynthesis. Hijacking plants developmental gene networks by insects to sequentially mediate dedifferentiation, cytokinin regulation, and tepal-like leaflets formation provides a framework to study highly elaborate forms of parasitism and symbiosis between plants and insects.
Authors
- Soon-Il Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1748-5193)
- Doseung Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4489-976X)
- Chan Man Ha
- Frédéric Berger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3609-8260)
- Moon Young Ryu
- Seong Wook Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0100-4594)
- Joo‐Won Suh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1085-2429)
- Wanggyu Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6495-6891)
- Dominik K. Großkinsky (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8976-1057)
- Gyeong Lyong Jeon
- Kyung-Hwan Boo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9024-2999)
- Thomas Roitsch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7109-3134)
- B. T. Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2561-1823)
- Pyung Ok Lim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6450-9063)
- Young Kyoung Oh
- Donghyuk Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6489-032X)
- Meike Burow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2350-985X)
- Christian Møller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2919-6380)
- Sangtae Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1821-4707)
- Jiwon Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7185-7318)
- Joo-Won Suh
- Seok Keun Cho
- Key Zung Riu
- Tae Rin Oh
Institutions
- University of North Texas (US)
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (AT)
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (AT)
- Sungshin Women's University (KR)
- Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (KR)
- Yonsei University (KR)
- Institute of Public Health (AL)
- National University (SD)
- National Institute of Biological Resources (KR)
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Global Change Research Institute (CZ)
- Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (KR)
- National Institute of Environmental Research (KR)
- Jeju National University (KR)
- Myongji University (KR)
- Texas A&M University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Plant Cell & Environment
- Published
- 2025-08-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70127
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Banana Cultivation and Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.75
Funders
- National Research Foundation
- Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- Rural Development Administration
- National Research Foundation of Korea
- Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea
- Samsung Science and Technology Foundation
- Samsung