DISTRIBUTION OF MINERAL NUTRIENTS WITHIN THE LEAVES OF COMMON DANDELION (TARAXACUM-OFFICINALE) GALLED BY PHANACIS-TARAXACI (HYMENOPTERA, CYNIPIDAE)

Galls induced by the cynipid wasp Phanacis taraxaci on the leaves of c ommon dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, alter the concentrations of var ious mineral nutrients found within attacked leaves. Two distinct patt erns of accumulation in normal leaves, galls, and the tissues of galle d leaves were observed. In the first pattern, Mn, Mg, Ca, and ash cont ent was galled leaf > gall greater-than-or-equal-to normal leaf, where as in the second pattern, Cu, Zn, and Fe was gall > gall leaf greater- than-or-equal-to normal leaf. The manner by which this gall and the in sects within intercept nutrients transported down the midrib is discus sed, as is the apparent variability in mineral acquisition by various gall systems.