Re-growth plasticity of cranberry shoots in response to apical meristem injury by a gall-making fly: recovery potential and fitness in the next growing season

Cranberry tipworm, Dasineura oxycoccana Johnson, is a tiny gall making fly native to the cranberry growing regions of north-eastern US. Larvae feed on apical meristem of cranberry shoots (uprights) and injury results in death of the tissue and termination of growth. However, some injured uprights are able to resume vegetative growth by producing side-shoots from axillary buds. Also, cranberry shoots initiate the formation of flower-buds for the next growing season in mid June – mid July of the current growing season. This study documented the plasticity in recovery potential (production of side-shoots) of multiple cranberry cultivars that were injured early in the growing season by either tipworm larvae or artificial removal of meristem. The study also investigated the adaptive value of side-shoots in terms of sexual fitness by comparing flower and fruit production in injured uprights with side-shoots to non-injured uprights.