Resumo: Os insetos galhadores são herbívoros especializados, que têm a habilidade de manipular os tecidos vegetais, formando uma complexa estrutura biológica. Diferentes organismos têm a capacidade de induzir galhas, porém as de insetos têm maior grau de complexidade estrutural. O principal objetivo desse estudo foi realizar um levantamento sistemático preliminar das galhas de insetos na Área de Conservação Guanacaste, na Costa Rica, e inserir as informações em uma base de dados biológicos. Os morfotipos de galhas foram registrados, caraterizados e depositados em um herbário estabelecido como base de referência deste inventário. Além disso, quando foi possível obter e identificar os organismos associados a cada morfotipo de galha, eles foram incluídos no inventário. As amostras de galhas foram coletadas na estação chuvosa, durante três anos. No total, foram registradas 44 famílias, 70 gêneros e 87 espécies de plantas hospedeiras. Cento e trinta e um morfotipos de galhas foram identificados na Área de Conservação de Guanacaste. A família com o maior número de morfotipos de galhas foi Fabaceae (8.4%). Os órgãos vegetais com o maior número de galhas foram as folhas (71,0%), seguidas dos caules (17,6%), e das gemas apicais com 6,9%. A forma predominante das galhas foi globoide (25,2%), seguida da lenticular (18,3%) e 59% das galhas apresentaram textura glabra, observada mais frequentemente folhas (77%). Cento e vinte morfotipos de galhas (91.6%) representaram novos registros não só na Costa Rica como também no mundo. Como consequência desta pesquisa e considerando as perspectivas de aumentos futuros de novos registros de galhas (e organismos associados), nós propomos que as entidades biológicas resultantes deste inventário sejam depositadas em um cecidiário. Este repositório representa uma maneira padronizada e abrangente de gerenciar e integrar os dados e os materiais biológicos associados às galhas das plantas. Também sugerimos uma terminologia para padronizar os registros e identificações dos morfotipos de galhas. Este inventário de galhas em plantas é o primeiro e o mais detalhado já realizado na Área de Conservação Guanacaste.

Abstract: Galling insects are specialist herbivorous that have the ability of manipulating plant tissue to form complex biological structures called galls. Even though different organisms have the ability to induce galls in plants, insect galls have the highest degree of structural complexity. The main goal of this study was to obtain a preliminary systematic record of plant gall morphotypes from the Guanacaste Conservation Area in Costa Rica and integrate the information into a biological database. Plant gall morphotypes were recorded, characterized and deposited into a specialized herbarium established as a reference for the inventory. Moreover, organisms associated with gall morphotypes were included in the inventory when it was possible to obtain and identify them. Galls were collected in the rainy season over a period of three years. In total, we recorded forty-four families, seventy genera, and eighty-seven host plant species. One hundred thirty-one morphotypes of plant galls were identified in the Guanacaste Conservation Area. The family with the highest number of gall morphotypes was Fabaceae (8.4%). Leaves were the organ with the largest number of galls (71%), followed by stems (17.6%), and apical buds (6.9%). The predominant gall shape was globular (25.2%), followed by discoid (18.3%). Fifty-nine percent of the galls had a glabrous texture, which was most common on leaves, with 77%. One hundred twenty of our field records (91.6%) of plant galls were new morphotypes not only for Costa Rica but also the world. As a consequence of this research and considering the prospect of future increases in new gall records (and associated organisms), we proposed having the biological entities resulting from the inventory placed in a cecidiarium. This repository represents a standardized and comprehensive way to manage the data and biological materials associated with the plant galls. We also suggest a nomenclature for standardizing gall morphotype registries and identifications. This work is the first and most detailed inventory of plant galls carried out thus far in the Guanacaste Conservation Area.

Resumen Introducción. El camote (Ipomoea batatas) es un cultivo muy susceptible a las enfermedades virales, las cuales se han asociado con una disminución del rendimiento del cultivo mayor al 50 %. En las plantaciones de camote costarricenses se ha reportado la presencia del virus del moteado plumoso (SPFMV), el virus del enanismo clorótico (SPCSV) y el virus del enrollamiento de la hoja (SPLCV); para el desarrollo de programas adecuados de control de estos virus, es necesaria la detección e identificación temprana mediante el uso de técnicas sensibles y eficientes. Objetivo. El objetivo de esta investigación fue estimar la incidencia del SPFMV, el SPCSV y el SPLCV en plantaciones de camote mediante qPCR. Materiales y métodos. En el 2018 se recolectaron muestras de tejido foliar de ochenta plantas con síntomas de infección viral en veinticinco plantaciones de camote distribuidas en cuatro provincias de Costa Rica. La detección de los tres virus se llevó a cabo mediante qPCR con el empleo de imprimadores y sondas de hidrólisis específicos. Resultados. En el 92 % de las plantaciones analizadas se encontró la presencia de virosis. La enfermedad viral del camote (SPVD), definida como la infección combinada del SPFMV y el SPCSV, fue la que se detectó con más frecuencia. Las plantaciones ubicadas en las localidades de Sabanilla, El Cacao y La Guácima de Alajuela fueron las únicas en presentar los tres virus estudiados. El virus SPLCV solamente fue detectado en las provincias de Limón y Alajuela. Conclusión. Es posible realizar una detección temprana de tres de los virus más frecuentes en camote con el empleo de qPCR, lo que contribuiría con los programas de producción de semilla certificada.

Abstract Introduction. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a root crop very susceptible to viral diseases, which have been associated with crop yield reductions of over 50 %. In the Costa Rican sweet potato plantations the presence of feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), and leaf curl virus (SPLCV) have been reported, for the development of adequate control programs, early detection and identification is necessary through the use of sensitive and efficient techniques. Objective. The objective of this research was to estimate the incidence of SPFMV, SPCSV, and SPLCV in sweet potato plantations using qPCR. Materials and methods. In 2018 foliar tissue samples were collected from eighty plants showing viral symptoms from twenty-five sweet potato plantations distributed in four provinces in Costa Rica. The detection of the three viruses was performed by qPCR with the use of primers and specific hydrolysis probes. Results. In 92 % of the plantations studied, the presence of virosis was found. The Sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) defined as the combined infection of SPFMV and SPCSV, was the most common viral disease found in all plantations. The plantations located in Sabanilla, El Cacao, and La Guacima were the only ones to present the three viruses studied. The SPLCV virus was only detected in the Limón and Alajuela provinces. Conclusion. It is possible to make an early detection of three of the most frequent sweet potato viruses with the use of qPCR which would contribute to certified seed production programs.