We evaluated the impact of the Harrisia Cactus Mealybug (HCM), Hypogeococcus sp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on seed germination of Pilosocereus royenii (Cactaceae) in Puerto Rico. Mature fruits were collected from individuals of P. royenii at various levels of HCM infestation, ranging from completely healthy plants to fruits growing directly on HCM-induced tumors. We hypothesized that germination will be directly and negatively affected by HCM infestation severity. After measuring germination and seedling survival for 160 days, we observed that seeds from fruits growing on tumors had the lowest germination rate compared to the other categories, as hypothesized. In addition, lightly infested plants germinated at a lesser rate compared to healthy plants, while seeds from severely infested plants germinated at a greater rate, contrasting with our hypothesis. We suggest that when the infestation is light, the host might be reallocating resources towards developing defensive responses. In contrast, when the infestation is severe, the host might be reallocating resources toward increasing germination.

中文翻译：

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侵袭性hypogeococcus sp的对比效果。（半翅目：假球菌）侵染波多黎各人土生的仙人掌Pilosocereus royenii（仙人掌科）的种子发芽

我们评估了哈里斯仙人掌Mealybug（HCM），Hypogeococcus sp。的影响。（半翅目：假球菌），关于波多黎各的Pilosocereus royenii（仙人掌科）的种子发芽。在不同水平的HCM侵染下从罗氏疟原虫个体中收集成熟果实，从完全健康的植物到直接在HCM诱导的肿瘤上生长的果实。我们假设发芽将受到HCM侵染严重性的直接和负面影响。在测量发芽和幼苗存活160天后，我们观察到，与假设的其他类别相比，肿瘤上生长的果实的种子发芽率最低。此外，与健康植物相比，轻度侵染的植物发芽率较低，而重度侵染的植物的种子发芽率较高，与我们的假设相反。我们建议，当侵扰较小时，主机可能会重新分配资源以发展防御措施。相反，当侵扰严重时，宿主可能正在重新分配资源以提高发芽率。