International Parasitic Plant Society

Welcome to the homepage of the International Parasitic Plant Society (IPPS). The IPPS is dedicated to advancing scientific research on parasitic plants. Our goals include increasing the understanding of these amazing plants, providing a platform for exchange among and beyond the scientific community as well as helping to decrease the crop damage inflicted by weedy parasitic plants.

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Most recent ‘Parasitic Plant’ publications

on the Web

Genome wide association study unveils the genetic basis of Orobanche crenata resistance in pea Osman Zakaria Wohor, Nicolas Rispail & Diego Rubiales Saturday 11 October 2025 Crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata) is an important obligate root parasitic weed that causes severe yield losses in pea (Pisum sativum) production. O. crenata is difficult to eradicate in pea fields due to its high resilience and prolific seed boom capable of hibernating in soils for decades. domain : link.springer.com

Investigation of spore infection mechanism in sunflowers infected by Puccinia helianthi Jiayun Wang, Yan Lu, Xiangjiu Kong, Yang Song & Lan Jing Friday 10 October 2025 Sunflower rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia helianthi, poses a significant threat to global sunflower production. However, the fundamental mechanisms of P. helianthi infection and development remain poorly understood. domain : link.springer.com

Protective Effects of Cuscuta australis Against CCl4-Induced Hepatic Injury in Rats: Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and In Silico Insights Hanen Baccari, Arij Bedoui, Anouar Feriani, Amal Bouallegue, Nihad Sahri, Sohaib Khatib, Mohamed Kharrat, Nizar Tlili, Mansour Sobeh, Moez Amri, and Zouhaier Abbes Friday 10 October 2025 The search for new bioactive molecules increasingly extends beyond conventional medicinal plants, highlighting the importance of exploring alternative botanical sources. Parasitic plants represent a promising but underexploited reservoir of pharmacologically relevant compounds. domain : mdpi.com

Acquisition of hop latent viroid from viroid-infected cannabis plants by rice root aphids and cannabis aphids Mikhaela Ong, Jack Munz, Anita Feng, Sauleha Yaqub, Liam Buirs & Gerhard Gries Thursday 09 October 2025 We tested whether rice root aphids (RRA; Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale) and cannabis aphids (CAs; Phorodon cannabis) acquire hop latent viroid (HLVd) from infected cannabis plants (Cannabis sativa). domain : link.springer.com

Field resistance to Orobanche crenata in pea (Pisum sativum L.): beyond strigolactones Francesco Arcieri, Gaetano Giudice, Marzia Guerriero, Chiara Delvento, Mario Schilder, Angelica Giancaspro, Pasquale Luca Curci, Catherine Rameau, Luigi Ricciardi, Concetta Lotti, Harro Bouwmeester, Imran Haider & Stefano Pavan Wednesday 08 October 2025 Orobanchaceae are parasitic weeds causing substantial yield losses in many crops, including pea (Pisum sativum L.). domain : link.springer.com

Serpocaulon biauriculatum (Polypodiaceae), a New Endemic Species of Fern From Serranía de los Yariguíes, Santander, Colombia David Sanín & Weston Testo Tuesday 07 October 2025 Serpocaulon biauriculatum (Polypodiaceae), a new fern species endemic to the Serranía de los Yariguíes in Santander, Colombia, is described. domain : link.springer.com

Histopathology of Aculeastrum americanum on Rubus idaeus and insights into the chloroplast-pathogen interaction Beatriz Appezzato-da-Glória Friday 26 September 2025 Raspberry late leaf rust, caused by Aculeastrum americanum (Farl.) M. Scholler & U. Braun has been reported in several countries. domain : www.frontiersin.org

The Role of ncRNAs in Parasitic Plant Infection and Resistance Management in Tomato Breeding Kayikci, H. C., Çiğnitaş, E., Karabeniz, A., & Mutlu, N. Thursday 25 September 2025 Tomato is one of the most important agricultural crops in the World and many biotic stresses exist affecting its production. domain : agrifoodscience.com

Revisiting the genus Bolbosoma Porta, 1908 (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae): host specificity, phylogeny, and species synonymization Alicia García-Gallego, Francisco J. Aznar, Jesús S. Hernández-Orts, Nicholas J. Davison, Andrew G. Briscoe, Rocío Loizaga, D. Timothy J. Littlewood & Natalia Fraija-Fernández Wednesday 24 September 2025 Acanthocephalans of the genus Bolbosoma Porta, 1908 are trophically transmitted parasites that infect marine mammals (mostly cetaceans and less frequently pinnipeds) worldwide. domain : link.springer.com

Coupling between plants and nematode community in high arctic tundra soil Marek Renčo, Karel Janko & Miloslav Devetter Wednesday 24 September 2025 Although the study of soil nematodes has a long tradition, our knowledge of Arctic nematode communities is sparse and data are from small areas of the polar region. domain : link.springer.com

Evaluación del efecto del compost añadido a un suelo agrícola en condiciones naturales sobre Orobanche cumana Domínguez Carmona, Ana, Gómez Calero, José Alfonso, Molinero-Ruiz, Leire Wednesday 10 September 2025 Orobanche cumana (jopo) es una planta holoparásita de raíces de girasol que limita la producción de aceite. La germinación del jopo es inducida por metabolitos liberados por el sistema radicular del hospedante. domain : www.sidalc.net

Immobilization of lipase from haustorium of germinating coconut (Cocos nucifera) by adsorption method MJG Loveres Friday 05 September 2025 A lipase from haustorium of germinating coconut (Cocos nucifera) with a protein content of 0.14 mg/ml was immobilized by adsorption method using silica gel.01 domain : www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph

Genome-Wide Signatures of Coevolution in Parasitic and Autotrophic Plants C deRoux Saturday 30 August 2025 Parasitism has repeatedly evolved in flowering plants, resulting in convergent genomic, metabolic, and morphological adaptations. domain : www.proquest.com

Eutypella platanica sp. nov. and Other Fungal Genera Cause Oriental Sycamore (Platanus orientalis) Tree Decline in Urban Forests of Iran Mehrdad Alizadeh, Naser Safaie, Hamed Azarbad, Mohammad Mehrabadi & Masoud Shamsbakhsh Thursday 28 August 2025 Urban forest trees provide numerous benefits, including improving air quality, reducing urban heat, and enhancing biodiversity. domain : link.springer.com

Host preference and fitness parameters of an invasive leaf eating caterpillar Trilocha varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae): implications for ornamental plant pest management Noura J. Alotaibi, Zhuo Zhihang, Sajida Mushtaq, Sadia Maalik, Muhammad Ramzan, Waqar Majeed, Habib Ali, Xu Danping & Ammara Riaz Thursday 28 August 2025 The caterpillar Trilocha varians is a significant pest of ornamental plants in tropical and subtropical regions, emphasizing its prevalence in Asian countries. domain : link.springer.com

Most recent 'Parasitic Plant' publications

in Scopus

Network pharmacological analysis and experimental verification of semen cuscutae in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis Sheng Xu, Wen Wen Zhang, Wei Wei Zhang, Hong Tao Wang, Jun Zhang, Rui Sheng Yang, Yuan Yuan, Li Wang, Hai Hu Hao Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, volume 30, pages 2702-2711 Thursday 16 October 2025 BACKGROUND: Semen cuscutae, a traditional Chinese medicine, has gradually shown its potential in anti-postmenopausal osteoporosis because of its relatively small side effects, which provides new ideas and possibilities for the treatment of this disease. OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of anti-postmenopausal osteoporosis of semen cuscutae based ... BACKGROUND: Semen cuscutae, a traditional Chinese medicine, has gradually shown its potential in anti-postmenopausal osteoporosis because of its relatively small side effects, which provides new ideas and possibilities for the treatment of this disease. OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of anti-postmenopausal osteoporosis of semen cuscutae based on network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking and to validate it with animal experiments. METHODS: The main active components and corresponding targets of semen cuscutae were screened in TCMSP database, and the disease targets of postmenopausal osteoporosis were collected in GeneCards, OMIM and PharmGKB databases. After identification of common targets, a series of analyses were carried out, and core targets were selected. The core targets were analyzed by GO function and their role was verified by molecular docking. The corresponding active components were selected for animal experiments. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Eleven main active components of semen cuscutae and 110 common targets of semen cuscutae and postmenopausal osteoporosis were screened out, and 10 core targets were identified. (2) GO function analysis showed that the core targets were closely related to oxidative stress and estrogen. (3) The top two ranked core target proteins, interleukin-6 and activated T-cell nuclear factor 1, were molecularly docked, and the top two ranked affinities, picloram and interleukin-6 as well as picloram and activated T-cell nuclear factor 1, were selected for validation in animal experiments. (4) Animal experimental results showed that matrine could inhibit the levels of interleukin-6 and activated T-cell nuclear factor 1 and improve trabecular bone structure of rats with postmenopausal osteoporosis. To conclude, low-dose matrine may affect the steady state of interleukin-6/soluble interleukin-6 receptor system by decreasing the level of interleukin-6, and inhibit the expression of nuclear factor 1 in downstream transcription factor-activated T cells in combination with nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway to inhibit osteoclast differentiation, reduce bone resorption, repair trabecular structure and treat postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Association mapping for Striga resistance and agronomic-related traits in sorghum Wilbert T. Mutezo, Moosa M. Sedibe, Justice Norvienyeku, Bingting Lai Plant Genome, volume 18, pages e70129 Sunday 12 October 2025 Over 50% of arable land available for cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa is severely infested with Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth, posing a significant challenge to agricultural productivity in the region. In this study, we performed association mapping of plant height, panicle height, number of leaves per plant, field fresh grain weight, dr... Over 50% of arable land available for cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa is severely infested with Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth, posing a significant challenge to agricultural productivity in the region. In this study, we performed association mapping of plant height, panicle height, number of leaves per plant, field fresh grain weight, dry grain weight, and chlorophyll with 6,094,317 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for Striga resistance genes in diverse sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] breeding lines and varieties released for resistance breeding. Chromosomes containing significant SNPs in FASTmrMLM and FarmCPU models were identified and computed. Chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 harbored SNPs significant for Striga tolerance in sorghum for agronomic-related traits. Agronomic traits measured revealed significant SNP counts as follows: plant height (4), panicle height (3), leaves per plant (2), foliar fresh grain weight (8), dry grain weight (2), and chlorophyll content (3). After successful validation, the 22 newly identified SNP markers linked to Striga resistance can be used for trait introgression and marker-assisted selection to increase Striga resistance in sorghum. We detected 12 SNPs using the FASTmrMLM model without adjusting the threshold level. However, no significant SNPs were detected with FarmCPU before the threshold was adjusted. Also, we identified 95 significant SNPs upon lowering the Bonferroni threshold value to p < 0.001. The parent materials for the intraspecific cross that produced the currently accessible molecular map were selected from the gene pool of cultivated sorghum. This map is invaluable for real-world breeding applications. Subsequent crosses among cultivated sorghum genotypes of interest to breeders will likely produce polymorphic segregating Diversity Array Technology (DArTSeq) markers within the cultivated gene pool.

The floral ABCs of Hydnora, one of the most bizarre parasitic plants in the world, and its autotrophic relatives of the order Piperales Natalia Pabón-Mora, Favio González, Claude W. dePamphilis, Jay F. Bolin, Christoph Neinhuis, Juan F. Alzate, Stefan Wanke Evodevo, volume 16 Sunday 12 October 2025 Hydnora (Hydnoraceae) comprises a few parasitic species exceptional among the autotrophic members of the perianth-bearing Piperales. Flowers in the genus are thick, fleshy, sapromyophilous, and develop into massive, polyspermous fruits. They are formed directly along underground rhizomes that parasitize species of Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae. Due to... Hydnora (Hydnoraceae) comprises a few parasitic species exceptional among the autotrophic members of the perianth-bearing Piperales. Flowers in the genus are thick, fleshy, sapromyophilous, and develop into massive, polyspermous fruits. They are formed directly along underground rhizomes that parasitize species of Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae. Due to its peculiar floral morphology and lack of leaves, Hydnora is often dubbed ‘the strangest plant in the world’. Here we generated the first transcriptomes of Hydnora visseri from the dissected rhizome, perianth, osmophore, stamen, carpel, and fruit. Our results suggest that Hydnora possesses one of the simplest developmental genetic toolkits for flowering and floral organ identity among angiosperms, further emphasizing its uniqueness. We detected that most of the photoperiodic flowering integrators are expressed. In contrast, regulators of the autonomous pathway and circadian clock were notably absent from the transcriptomes. Conversely, we identified an intact genetic toolkit linked to floral organ identity and fruit development in Hydnora. Through positional homology and gene expression data, we inferred that the perianth of Hydnora corresponds to the calyx, and that the osmophores are late sepal elaborations. Additionally, the expression patterns of genes responsible for stamen, carpel, and ovule identity align with the canonical ABCDE model. Finally, we recorded large-scale duplications in putative perianth identity genes prior to the diversification of all perianth-bearing Piperales. This study serves as an additional comparative point for assessing the evolutionary onset of holoparasitic plants, as Hydnora and its sister genus Prosopanche are likely the earliest branching representatives of this lifestyle across angiosperms.

Effects of plant growth regulators on Orobanche coerulescens seed germination Yu Hsuan Wang, Kuan Hung Lin, Yu Hsin Tseng, Cung I. Chen, Chang Chang Chen, Ching Wen Wang, Meng Yuan Huang Botanical Studies, volume 66 Saturday 11 October 2025 Background Orobanche coerulescens:, used in traditional medicine and as a nutraceutical, requires external chemical stimuli for seed germination, similar to other Orobanchaceae species. This study aims to explore the effects of plant growth regulators conditioning and non-conditioning on its seed germination. Seeds collected from mature plants para... Background Orobanche coerulescens:, used in traditional medicine and as a nutraceutical, requires external chemical stimuli for seed germination, similar to other Orobanchaceae species. This study aims to explore the effects of plant growth regulators conditioning and non-conditioning on its seed germination. Seeds collected from mature plants parasitizing A. capillaris were stored at 4 °C to induce dormancy and sterilized with NaOCl. Seeds were sterilized with NaOCl and Tween 20, and preconditioned on agar with gibberellic acid (GA3), fluridone, norflurazon, or brassinolide, and incubated at 4–18 °C for 3–7 days in darkness. Afterward, seeds were transferred to GR24 or SD H<inf>2</inf>O agar, and incubated at 23 ± 2 °C. Non-conditioned sterilized seeds were directly germinated on agar with various substances and incubated for 180 days. Results: Seeds exhibited a viability of 39.23% at the fifth day after TTC-staining. Fluridone and norflurazon significantly promote germination during conditioning with SD H<inf>2</inf>O or GR24. The highest germination rate occurred with fluridone-conditioned seeds at 18 °C for 5 days, followed by SD H<inf>2</inf>O stimulation. However, GR24 may act as an inhibitor rather than a stimulant. Conclusions: These findings enhance our understanding of seed germination in this parasitic species, which can aid in conservation efforts.

Efficacy of the herbal product of Cuscuta campestris Yunck. and Polypodium vulgare L. in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A triple-blind clinical trial Behnaz Bakhshinejad, Abdolreza Sabahi, Tania Dehesh, Zarrin Sarhadynejad, Mehrnaz Mehrabani, Mahdiyeh Khazaneha, Mehrzad Mehrbani, Mitra Mehrabani Journal of Ethnopharmacology, volume 354 Monday 06 October 2025 Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cuscuta campestris Yunck. and Polypodium vulgare L. are medicinal plants widely used in traditional Persian medicine to treat various mental health conditions, such as Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Aim of the study: OCD is among the top ten disorders that cause disability and decrease quality of life. Consider... Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cuscuta campestris Yunck. and Polypodium vulgare L. are medicinal plants widely used in traditional Persian medicine to treat various mental health conditions, such as Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Aim of the study: OCD is among the top ten disorders that cause disability and decrease quality of life. Considering the lack of a definitive treatment method and the side effects of the existing drugs, the application of complementary medicine in treating this disorder seems reasonable. The current study aimed to investigate the therapeutic impact of a dodder and polypody herbal product (DPHP) in OCD patients. Materials and methods: In this triple-blind clinical trial, 84 individuals with OCD were assigned to two groups of DPHP and placebo receivers at random. While taking fluvoxamine tablets (100 mg twice daily), the first group was prescribed DPHP tablets, and the second group was prescribed placebo tablets twice daily. The intensity of manifestations and the participant's quality of life were evaluated at the beginning of the trial and after four and eight weeks of intervention using the Yale-Brown and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires, respectively. Results: The severity of OCD symptoms in both groups decreased significantly after four and eight weeks (P-value <0.001). The DPHP group's reduction rate was significantly higher than the placebo group (P-value = 0.043). The quality of life improved significantly in both groups (P-value <0.001). However, the increase in the quality of life in the DPHP group was significantly higher compared to the placebo group (P-value = 0.042). Conclusions: DPHP, taken alongside fluvoxamine, can effectively alleviate the symptoms of OCD and increase the quality of life. Therefore, it could be regarded as a complementary therapeutic alternative to OCD.

Report on the complete organelle genomes of Orobanche Filicicola Nakai ex Hyun, Y. S. Lim & H. C. Shin (Orobanchaceae): insights from comparison with Orobanchaceae plant genomes Sang Chul Kim, Eun Su Kang, Tae Hee Kim, Ye Rim Choi, Hyuk Jin Kim BMC Genomics, volume 26 Monday 06 October 2025 Background: Orobanche is a parasitic plant distributed in the temperate zone of Northern Hemisphere, with approximately 200 species found worldwide. In the Republic of Korea, two species of Orobanche, namely O. coerulescens Stephan ex Willd. and O. filicicola Nakai ex Hyun, Y. S. Lim & H. C. Shin, are present, with O. filicicola being endemic. Geno... Background: Orobanche is a parasitic plant distributed in the temperate zone of Northern Hemisphere, with approximately 200 species found worldwide. In the Republic of Korea, two species of Orobanche, namely O. coerulescens Stephan ex Willd. and O. filicicola Nakai ex Hyun, Y. S. Lim & H. C. Shin, are present, with O. filicicola being endemic. Genome analysis of this species has not yet been performed, and characterizing its complete organelle genome will provide valuable insights into the phylogeny and genome evolution of parasitic plants. Results: The chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes were analyzed, revealing distinct characteristics. The chloroplast genome is 91,529 bp long with a GC content of 33.6%, containing 33 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and 4 rRNA genes. In contrast, the mitochondrial genome is 1,058,991 bp long with a GC content of 45.5%, featuring 31 protein-coding, 16 tRNA, and 3 rRNA genes. The mitochondrial genome has over three times more simple sequence repeats and longer long repeats than the chloroplast genome. Analysis of synonymous codon usage in protein-coding genes from nine Orobanchaceae species revealed significant differences between chloroplasts and mitochondria, with codons ending in A or T exhibiting higher coding rates. Ka/Ks ratio calculations indicated that psbI and atpB had the smallest and largest ratios in chloroplasts, respectively, while ccmFC was identified as the only gene under positive selection in mitochondria genomes. Sequence alignment identified 30 homologous fragments between the two genomes, totaling 7,247 bp. Comparison of O. filicicola’s chloroplast genome with related species showed gene loss and conserved inverted repeat sequences. Numerous homologous collinear blocks were found in mitochondrial genomes of related species, but some regions lacked homology. Phylogenetic analysis indicated identical topologies for chloroplasts and mitochondria, with Orobanchaceae forming a strong monophyletic group. Conclusions: Characterizing the complete organelle genome of O. filicicola enabled a comprehensive analysis of the Orobanchaceae organelle genome, providing important baseline data for its structure and evolution.

Orobanche aegyptiaca-chitosan nanocomposite efficacy against the freshwater snail Biomphalaria alexandrina Reda Ramadan Abdel-Khalek, Fathy Abdel-Ghaffar, Salwa Abdel Hamid Hamdi, Amina M. Ibrahim, Mona Fathi Fol, Nesma Abbas Mostafa Scientific Reports, volume 15 Monday 06 October 2025 As one of the neglected tropical diseases, schistosomiasis is responsible for various social and economic issues in numerous developing countries. The intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni is the Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. A promising approach to mitigate the transmission of this disease is to use medicinal plants loaded with nanomaterials... As one of the neglected tropical diseases, schistosomiasis is responsible for various social and economic issues in numerous developing countries. The intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni is the Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. A promising approach to mitigate the transmission of this disease is to use medicinal plants loaded with nanomaterials to control these snails. This research aimed to investigate the molluscicidal activity of Orobanche aegyptiaca- chitosan nanocomposite on B. alexandrina snails. The phytochemical screening of the tested plant verified its abundance of saponins, tannins, and flavonoids, which may be responsible for its cytotoxic effects. Chitosan nanoparticles were produced using the ionotropic gelation technique, while the O. aegyptiaca-chitosan nanocomposite was synthesized using the sonochemical approach. The characterization of the nanocomposite was carried out using TEM, XRD, and Zeta potential. The results demonstrated that the survival, fecundity (eggs/snail/week), and reproductive rates of B. alexandrina snails were substantially reduced upon exposure to the sub-lethal concentrations LC10 or LC25 of O. aegyptiaca-chitosan nanocomposite. Biochemically, it adversely affected some parameters, where it considerably (P < 0.05) raised ALT, AST, and ALP levels, while urea, uric acid, and cholesterol were significantly decreased compared to control snails. Furthermore, the antioxidant markers CAT, SOD, and GSH exhibited a substantial (P < 0.05) reduction, while MDA and NO levels increased at both sublethal concentrations. Histopathological examinations of the digestive gland of the treated B. alexandrina revealed a decrease in the size of the tubules, and the digestive and secretory cells degenerated. The hermaphrodite glands exhibited substantial damage in the reproductive tubules, with extensive damage to the gonadal cells, resulting in the loss of ova and sperm shapes. Also, the comet analysis showed a genotoxic effect of the nanocomposite, evidenced by significant changes in crucial comet assay parameters: tail length (TL), tail DNA percentage (TD), tail moment (TM), and olive tail moment (OTM). Conclusively, these findings confirmed the potential activity of O. aegyptiaca- chitosan nanocomposite as a molluscicidal agent against B. alexandrina to decrease schistosomiasis transmission.

Galactosylated liposomes for targeted encapsulation and enhanced cytotoxicity of Mistletoe Lectin, an antitumoral type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein Josanna Kaufmann, Eray Cetin, Tiana Kraus, Harden Rieger, Gero Leneweit International Journal of Pharmaceutics X, volume 10 Monday 06 October 2025 The development of efficient liposomal encapsulations of proteins for pharmaceutical applications is limited by several factors: their high molecular weight, interactions with surrounding substances, or the generally lower stability compared to small molecules. In this work, various liposomal formulations were prepared using the thin-film hydration... The development of efficient liposomal encapsulations of proteins for pharmaceutical applications is limited by several factors: their high molecular weight, interactions with surrounding substances, or the generally lower stability compared to small molecules. In this work, various liposomal formulations were prepared using the thin-film hydration method followed by extrusion, to investigate their suitability for the encapsulation of the plant-derived antitumoral mistletoe lectin-1 (ML-1). This can be significantly optimized by exploiting its preferential binding to galactose-containing structures, such as modified lipids integrated into the liposomal bilayer. Incorporation of the galactosylated lipid DSPE-PEG2k-Gal into the membrane significantly enhanced the overall recovery rate and encapsulation efficiency of ML-1, attributed to its affinity for the functionalized component. Compared to non-functionalized liposomes, a 2-fold to 4-fold increase in percentage encapsulation efficiency was observed. The galactosylated lipid optimized the ratio of encapsulated to surface-adsorbed ML-1 and facilitated its preferential localization within the core of the liposomes. A strong correlation was identified between the number of entrapped ML-1 molecules per liposome and the degree of galactosylation. The formulations demonstrated high in vitro cytotoxicity, as exemplified with murine colon-26 carcinoma cells, with the galactose-functionalized liposomes achieving an IC<inf>50</inf> value comparable to free ML-1. This strategy presents significant potential for developing more efficient and targeted liposomal formulations of pharmaceutical proteins with specific affinities to tailored lipid components, advancing drug delivery technologies, and improving therapeutic options for cancer treatment.

Parasitic plant Cistanche tubulosa shapes the bacterial community structure and functional composition of the salt-tolerant host Tamarix chinensis across different parasitic statuses Luyao Tang, Xiaoshan Liu, Shuhong Lin, Le Zhan, Yehua Chen, Yanan Han, Lei Wang, Jinchang Liang, Zhong Zhang Environmental Microbiome, volume 20 Monday 06 October 2025 Background: Root-associated microbiomes are crucial for assisting host and parasitic plants cope with environmental stress. However, little research exists on bacterial community characteristics of parasites and hosts under different parasitic statuses. In this study, we used Cistanche tubulosa and Tamarix chinensis as parasitic and host plant mode... Background: Root-associated microbiomes are crucial for assisting host and parasitic plants cope with environmental stress. However, little research exists on bacterial community characteristics of parasites and hosts under different parasitic statuses. In this study, we used Cistanche tubulosa and Tamarix chinensis as parasitic and host plant models, respectively, and aimed to determine the assembly mechanisms and role in assisting plants in salt stress tolerance of root-associated bacterial communities. Results: The different parasitic statuses are closely related to the variations in bacterial communication and community assembly mechanisms between the host and parasitic plants. The percentages of potential microbiota sourced from the parasite to the host (44.83% and 83.50%) were greater than those from the host to the parasite (17.50% and 54.67%) in the re-parasitism and flowering stages, illustrating that parasites play a dominant role in shaping the host root microbiota. In addition, the host has a more complex and robust root microbiota co-occurrence network than the parasite does, whereas the KEGG results revealed that the predicted bacterial communities of the parasite-associated microbiota contain more genes in plant growth promotion, salt‒alkali stress resistance, and substance metabolism. Moreover, the salinity, NH<inf>4</inf>+, and total potassium were significantly correlated with the bacterial community distributions of the two plants. Conclusion: Our results indicate that parasitic status significantly affects the distribution of root bacterial communities, bacterial transfer, and material metabolism of the two plants at different parasitic statuses, reflecting the adaptive mechanisms of plants and bacteria under parasitic relationships and providing ideas for the utilization of saline-alkaline land.

Predicting parasitic plants Loranthus Europaeus range shifts in response to climate change Marlena Baranowska, Adrian Łukowski, Robert Korzeniewicz, Wojciech Kowalkowski, Łukasz Dylewski Scientific Reports, volume 15 Monday 06 October 2025 Climate change significantly influences the distribution of parasitic species, posing threats to ecosystems and economies. This study examines the potential range expansion of Loranthus europaeus, a parasitic plant impacting European forestry. We assessed the impact of predicted climate change for 2041–2060 and 2061–2080 using MaxEnt modeling b... Climate change significantly influences the distribution of parasitic species, posing threats to ecosystems and economies. This study examines the potential range expansion of Loranthus europaeus, a parasitic plant impacting European forestry. We assessed the impact of predicted climate change for 2041–2060 and 2061–2080 using MaxEnt modeling based on current occurrence data of L. europaeus, and the main host plant genus oak Quercus, as well as bioclimatic variables. Our model demonstrated high predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.92). The most important variables for Europe range were range of Quercus genus. Key environmental factors included isothermality (bio3) and mean temperature of wettest quarter (bio8). Under SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios, our results predict significant range expansions into northern and eastern Europe, with increases of 43.5% and 53.9% by 2041–2060. Conversely, southern Europe may see contractions of 16.4–20.6%. Projections for 2061–2080 indicate further expansions up to 65.8% in northern Europe, alongside contractions up to 29.8% in southern regions, including Turkey and Greece.These shifts highlight the influence of climate change on L. europaeus distribution and underscore the need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate potential ecological and economic impacts.

Inoculation with Talaromyces trachyspermus and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus alongside sulfonylurea herbicides alters Orobanche aegyptiaca and tomato growth Mina Agha Baba Dastjerdi, Ali Reza Yousefi, Khalil Jamshidi, Majid Pouryousef, Setareh Amanifar Scientific Reports, volume 15 Monday 06 October 2025 The life cycle and unique biology of broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca) have made the management of this root- parasitic plant one of the greatest challenges in agriculture. The objective of this investigation was to ascertain whether the efficacy of chemical weed control could be enhanced through the inoculation of tomato plants with mycorrhizal and... The life cycle and unique biology of broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca) have made the management of this root- parasitic plant one of the greatest challenges in agriculture. The objective of this investigation was to ascertain whether the efficacy of chemical weed control could be enhanced through the inoculation of tomato plants with mycorrhizal and Talaromyces trachyspermus fungus. The combined effect of utilizing these fungi with the sulfonylurea herbicides (rimsulfuron and sulfosulfuron) with two application methods (herbigation and foliar spraying) was investigated in greenhouse and field trials. The results showed the application of rimsulfuron and sulfosulfuron, respectively, resulted in a 99.5% and 99.9% reduction in production capacity in the presence of the mycorrhizal fungus, as evidenced in the greenhouse experiment. The application of rimsulfuron using the herbigation method resulted in a 50% reduction in seed production in the presence of mycorrhiza in the field experiment. The application of the mycorrhizal fungus resulted in a reduction of the number of broomrape shoots by 17.2% with rimsulfuron and 62.1% with sulfosulfuron in the foliar spraying method in the greenhouse experiment. In the presence of mycorrhizal fungus, sulfosulfuron in the herbigation method demonstrated a 37.8% reduction in the number of broomrape shoots compared to the absence of herbicide in the field experiment. The highest marketable yield of tomato was observed in the mycorrhizal plants, where rimsulfuron was applied in the field experiment. The findings highlight the potential of integrated biological-chemical strategies as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative for the management of this parasite weed. Moreover, they demonstrate the feasibility and potential of such strategies to facilitate the resolution of this pivotal challenge in agricultural practice.

Impact of pollution on microbiological dynamics in the pistil stigmas of Orobanche lutea flowers (Orobanchaceae) Karolina Wiśniewska, Sebastian Wojciech Przemieniecki, Krzysztof Krawczyk, Anna Hoffmann, Renata Piwowarczyk Scientific Reports, volume 15 Monday 06 October 2025 Our understanding of the basic relationships of microbiota associated with flowers is still quite limited, especially regarding parasitic plant species. The transient nature of flower parts such as pistil stigmas provides a unique opportunity for temporal investigations. This is the first report of the analysis of bacterial and fungal communities a... Our understanding of the basic relationships of microbiota associated with flowers is still quite limited, especially regarding parasitic plant species. The transient nature of flower parts such as pistil stigmas provides a unique opportunity for temporal investigations. This is the first report of the analysis of bacterial and fungal communities associated with the pistil stigmas of the lucerne parasite, Orobanche lutea. We compared the microorganism communities at different developmental stages and assessed the impact of pollution at the sampling sites. We also examined the plant growth properties (PGP) of bacteria in a culture-dependent analysis. The predominant colonizers of the pistil stigmas were Proteobacteria (99.25%), with Enterobacteriaceae (49.88%) and Pseudomonadaceae (48.28%) being the major families. The prevalent fungal phylum was Basidiomycota (71.64%), with Filobasidiales (33.14%) and Tremellales (27.27%) as dominant orders. Microbial populations in polluted area showed increased bacterial and fungal diversity. Mature stigmas exhibited greater microbial variety compared to immature ones. We found higher fungal than bacteria abundance at both polluted and unpolluted sites. In culture-dependent analysis, immature stigmas from unpolluted area had the least bacterial morphotypes. Identified culturable bacteria represented the Acinetobacter, Erwinia, Micrococcus, Oceanobacillus, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Serratia, and Staphylococcus genera. The assessment of PGP traits revealed multiple strains with plant growth-promoting potential. Microbial composition varied between polluted and unpolluted sites and was influenced by the flower’s developmental stage.

Integrated omic analysis provides insights into how Cuscuta australis inhibits the growth and reproduction of Xanthium spinosum Yunxia Wang, Hubai Bu, Xin Gu, Wanxue Liu, Xinpu Wang BMC Plant Biology, volume 25 Monday 06 October 2025 Background: Xanthium spinosum is one of the most abundant and aggressively invasive plants in the world. Cuscuta australis parasitism hinders X. spinosum growth and development by absorbing nutrients, leading to reduced reproductive performance. However, which metabolite changes contribute to stunted growth and diminished reproductive performance i... Background: Xanthium spinosum is one of the most abundant and aggressively invasive plants in the world. Cuscuta australis parasitism hinders X. spinosum growth and development by absorbing nutrients, leading to reduced reproductive performance. However, which metabolite changes contribute to stunted growth and diminished reproductive performance in X. spinosum? Additionally, what genes regulate these metabolites? These underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Results: X. spinosum was used to determine the physiological relevance of C. australis parasitism to alleviate host plant growth and explore the molecular mechanism, with a focus on metabolic pathways. The results revealed that C. australis significantly reduced the growth potential of X. spinosum, with a particularly notable decrease in seed quantity, which decreased by 92.07%. C. australis parasitism increased the activities of the peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes in the stems of X. spinosum. Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed that C. australis influenced lignin synthesis in the stem through the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. Concurrently, the majority of differentially expressed genes in the galactose metabolism pathway were upregulated, leading to increased sugar accumulation and disrupted metabolism. Furthermore, all differentially expressed genes in the autophagy-other pathway were upregulated, resulting in excessive autophagy and a significant reduction in the reproductive performance of X. spinosum. Conclusions: The results provide a theoretical foundation for the development of targeted pesticides aimed at controlling X. spinosum.

Controlling dodder (Cuscuta planiflora) in Egyptian clover with silica nanoparticles and a novel bioherbicide Hend Mohammad Saad Ibrahim, Ibrahim E. Soliman, Mohamed E.Z. Kenapar, Sally F. Desoukey, Yasser M. Shabana, Abd El Aziz T. Bondok Scientific Reports, volume 15 Monday 06 October 2025 Dodder (Cuscuta planiflora) is a major parasitic plant species affecting the productivity of Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), an important forage crop in Egypt. A field trial was executed on Egyptian clover heavily infested with dodder during the winter seasons of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. The aim of this study was to investigate the eff... Dodder (Cuscuta planiflora) is a major parasitic plant species affecting the productivity of Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), an important forage crop in Egypt. A field trial was executed on Egyptian clover heavily infested with dodder during the winter seasons of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cultivar choice and seven dodder control treatments on dodder growth performance as well as growth and yield components of Egyptian clover under infestation conditions. Results indicated that Helali was the most tolerant cultivar to dodder infestation. Moreover, treatments using Fusarium incarnatum-based bioherbicide, silica nano-particles (Si-NPs), and chemical herbicide (glyphosate) effectively controlled dodder after parasitism. The application of Si-NPs at 22 and 30 g fed−1 and bioherbicide at 20 and 30 kg fed-1 effectively reduced dodder biomass while increased biomass and seed yield of infested clover. The interaction between the Helali cultivar and Si-NPs at 30 g fed−1 was the most effective in reducing dodder biomass. Anatomical investigation of the stem revealed that Helali exhibited the greatest tolerance against dodder penetration. The electrophoretic protein profile indicated an unchanged protein pattern for Helali under infestation conditions. These findings suggest that Helali possesses a robust defense system and genetic diversity, making it the most tolerant cultivar to dodder infestation in conjunction with the high efficacy of the dodder control treatments used in this study.

A fermented Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract elicits markers characteristic for immunogenic cell death driven by endoplasmic reticulum stress in vitro Ulrike Weissenstein, Sibylle Tschumi, Bettina Leonhard, Stephan Baumgartner BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, volume 25 Monday 06 October 2025 Background: Immune evasion is a characteristic hallmark of cancer. Immunotherapies aim to activate and support the body's immune system to recognize and fight tumor cells. Induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) and the associated activation of danger signaling pathways can increase the immunogenicity of tumor cells. Therapeutic ICD stimuli activ... Background: Immune evasion is a characteristic hallmark of cancer. Immunotherapies aim to activate and support the body's immune system to recognize and fight tumor cells. Induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD) and the associated activation of danger signaling pathways can increase the immunogenicity of tumor cells. Therapeutic ICD stimuli activate endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways and apoptosis leading to the cellular expression of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The aim of our in vitro study was to investigate whether mistletoe extracts induce characteristics of immunogenic tumor cell death in cancer cell lines. Methods: Three human breast cancer cell lines and one murine melanoma cell line (SKBR3, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and B16F10) were treated with aqueous, fermented Viscum album extract (VAE: Iscador Qu spec.) and taxol or tunicamycin as positive controls, respectively. To investigate whether VAE induces ribotoxic stress, we measured the ER stress regulators p-eIF2a, ATF4, and CHOP by Western blot. Cell surface exposure of DAMPs (calreticulin, heat shock proteins hsp70 and hsp90), apoptosis and induction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed by flow cytometry. HMGB1 and ATP were quantified by ELISA and chemiluminescence assay, respectively. Results: Treatment with VAE resulted in phosphorylation of eIF2α in all cancer cell lines tested and increased calreticulin (CRT) exposure on the surface of pre-apoptotic SKBR3 breast cancer and B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. VAE exerted a concentration-dependent effect in all cell lines, resulting in a significantly increased exposure of three DAMPs (CRT, hsp70 and hsp90) on the surface of early apoptotic cells. Furthermore, VAE elevated mitochondrial ROS production and the release of ATP. HMGB1 release was not induced by VAE. Conclusions: In this in vitro study, we demonstrated for the first time the potential of a mistletoe extract to induce surrogate markers of immunogenic cancer cell death. This is a primary step in investigating the potential of VAEs to contribute to ICD-induced tumor-specific immune activation.

Parasitic Plants on X [fka Twitter]

Natalia Pabon Mora 🇨🇴🌿🌷 @NataliaPabonMo1 ·

14 Oct 1978227841146691714

Parasitic plant lovers: This poem is for you. Field observations , anatomy and a super reduced plastome of these tiny yellow parasites in humid forests. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.70102 @plantspplplanet . For a video on this crazy plant check Aaron Pomerantz page https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/151203-caterpillar-ant-parasitic-plant-Peru-science-evolution

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Zatmenie.PNG 🏳️‍🌈comms ych open @ZatmeniePNG ·

12 Oct 1977438457946656989

Parasite on other people's work, and corrects the work of artists through AI. Be careful.

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Harri @harrihehe ·

10 Oct 1976527474465886601

Fungus from the Armillaria genus. Armillaria mushrooms mainly decompose dead wood and forest debris, but they can also parasitise living trees. This specimen is growing on a dead birch tree. #fungifriday

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Forward Makasi-Agronomist🇿🇼 @ForwardMakasi1 ·

6 Oct 1975260500054208927

Toady I attended @Syngenta workshop on Plant Parasitic Nematode (PPN) at Holiday Inn, Harare. I gained valuable insights into the underestimated impact of PPN & the effectiveness & sustainability of their innovative TYMIRIUM technology in controlling the pest #FarmersFirstChoice.

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