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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Cistanche tubulosa

Cuscuta reflexa

Cynomorium coccineum

Cytinus hypocistis

Viscum album

Phoradendron sp.

Orobanche hederae

Orobanche kochii

Conopholis americana

Pholisma arenarium

Lathraea clandestina (Purple toothwort)

Aphyllon californica

Arceuthobium oxicedrii

Buchnera americana

Striga hermonthica

Orobanche crenata

Pedicularis resupinata

Phelipanche aegyptiaca

Agalinis sp.

Castilleja sp.

Scybalium fungiforme (Balanophoraceae, Santalales)

Cuscuta campestris

Cuscuta monogyna

Phelipanche ramosa

Orobanche crenata

Cuscuta monogyna on Ziziphus spina-christi

Orobanche teucrii

Orobanche gracilis

Cuscuta gronovii

Euphrasia cf. salisburgensis

Castilleja cf. chromosa

Lindenbergia muraria

Rhinanthus cf. serotinus

Viscum cruciatum

Striga hermonthica on sorghum in a rhizotron

Boulardia macrolepis

Dasistoma macrophylla

Aeginetia indica on Setaria

Striga gesnerioides Indigo (Florida) strain

Lathraea squamaria

Cistanche phelypaea

Cistanche violacea

Orobanche minor on clover in Japan

Orobanche cumana on sunflower in Israel

Phelipanche nana on Oxalis pes-caprae

Orobanche crenata on pea near Gesher Haziv (ISR)

Orobanche pallidiflora

Orobanche bartlingii

Orobanche lutea

Orobanche alba

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Most recent ‘Parasitic Plant’ publications

on the Web

Eco-friendly Synthesis of Silver-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite, The Characterization, and Evaluation of Electrochemical Activity O Kahraman, E Turunc, R Binzet - Microchemical Journal, 2024 - Elsevier Thursday 12 September 2024 In this study, Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers., which is an important holoparasite plant, was used for green synthesis of reduced graphene oxide silver nanocomposites (rGO- domain : www.sciencedirect.com
Climate, Host Abundance and Spread: Unravelling the Drivers of Forest Pest Distributions in North America AV Gougherty, AD Walters, A Prasad… - Journal of … - Wiley Online Library Wednesday 11 September 2024 Forest pathogens, insect pests and parasitic plants are insect pests, pathogens and parasitic plants, and a combination , 2 pathogens, 9 parasitic plants, of which 16 were domain : onlinelibrary.wiley.com
arasitic plants regulate C and N distribution among common mycorrhizal networks linking host and neighboring plants Y Yuan, C Han, J Wang, J Li - 2024 - Wiley Online Library Monday 09 September 2024 However, how parasitic plants regulate the carbon and nutrient the importance of parasitic plants in the regulation of We hypothesized that parasitic plants drive CMNs to domain : esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com versions : 2
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STRIGOLACTONE PRODUCTION IN BAMBARA GROUNDNUT AND COWPEA GENOTYPES: Akwapoly Journal of Communication … AC Ibe - Akwapoly Journal of Communication & Scientific …, 2024 - akwapolyjournal.org Sunday 08 September 2024 Host specificity of parasitic plants. Although Alectrabutnot Striga parasitized the 12 may be resistance/tolerance to root parasitic plants based on reduced SL production. domain : akwapolyjournal.org
ranscriptomic analysis of melon with different Phelipanche aegyptiaca resistance Y Guo, J Yang, H Wang, J Li, B Liu, H Min… - Plant Protection … - ideas.repec.org Sunday 08 September 2024 To elucidate the genetic factors contributing to melon resistance against Phelipanche aegyptiaca and comprehend the role of differentially resistant materials in domain : ideas.repec.org
American mistletoes: A dataset of Phoradendron species and their hosts across their distribution range E Tinoco‐Domínguez, MS González‐Elizondo… - Ecology - Wiley Online Library Friday 06 September 2024 This data paper represents an updated compilation of a genus of parasitic plants, with the purpose of making this database of interactions accessible for researchers to domain : esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com versions : 2
Community ionomics reveals a diversity of mineral nutrition in a species‐rich shrubland on infertile soil J Hocedez, K Gotty, V Hequet, S Chay… - Journal of …, 2024 - Wiley Online Library Wednesday 04 September 2024 Our study, 37 species were identified in the plot, representing all major forms of mycorrhizal symbioses, as well as nitrogenfixing plants, cluster rooted and parasitic plants. domain : onlinelibrary.wiley.com
ining Alleles for Creating Environment Resilient Sunflower A Radanović, R Horn - Allele Mining for Genomic Designing of Oilseed … - taylorfrancis.com Sunday 01 September 2024 Of sunflower breeding has been on increasing their biotic stress resistance to some of the main stressors, such as downy and powdery mildew, as well as broomrape. domain : www.taylorfrancis.com
Naturally Occurring Dehydrocostus Lactone Covalently Binds to KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE 2 by Dual Serine Modifications in Orobanche cumana and Arabidopsis S Han, Q Wei, J Liu, L Li, T Xu, L Cao… - Journal of Agricultural …, 2024 - ACS Publications Friday 30 August 2024 Parasitic weeds, such as Orobanche and Striga, threaten crops globally. Contiguous efforts on the discovery and development of structurally novel seed germination domain : pubs.acs.org versions : 2
arasitism by Cuscuta gronovii mediated soil legacy effects and the competitive ability of invasive and native plant species by changing soil abiotic and biotic … Y Yuan, AMO Oduor, Y Zhao, S Gao, C Han, J Li - Applied Soil Ecology, 2024 - Elsevier Wednesday 28 August 2024 Infestation by a common parasitic plant can lead to parasitic plant differentially influences soil legacy effects of invasive and native plants. (3) Infestation by a parasitic plant domain : www.sciencedirect.com
iocontrol Potential of Endophytic Fungi against Orobanche Infestations in Fruit Crops: A Case Study in Delta State, Nigeria AO Ukpene, EO Oduma - Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental …, 2024 - ajol.info Wednesday 28 August 2024 This study investigated the potential of endophytic fungi as biocontrol agents against Orobanche infestations in fruit crops such as chickpea, soybean, lentil, and pea plants domain : www.ajol.info
orphological Studies on Some Orobanche L. Species in Egypt AM El-Taher, FS Mohamed - International journal of health sciences - neliti.com Tuesday 27 August 2024 Orobanche is a dangerous holoroot parasitic weed on for taxonomic studies of Orobanche. The species exhibits characteristics in distinguishing among Orobanche taxa. domain : www.neliti.com
ocal adaptation of crop landraces C Mc Laughlin - 2024 - etda.libraries.psu.edu Monday 26 August 2024 Associated with resistance strategies to a parasitic plant in African sorghum landraces, with a host resistance strategy to a parasitic plant and more broadly contributed to domain : etda.libraries.psu.edu
Non-chemical management of fungal diseases in berries: A review M Taoussi, M Radi, R Ezzouggari, I Legrifi… - CABI …, 2024 - cabidigitallibrary.org Saturday 24 August 2024 Globally, significant losses in organic berry agriculture stem from pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, oomycetes, nematodes, and parasitic plants. domain : www.cabidigitallibrary.org
Native root hemiparasites form haustorial attachments with multiple invasive and expansive species. K Knotková, H Cempírková, J Těšitel - Flora, 2024 - Elsevier Friday 23 August 2024 Parasitic plants are known for shaping plant communities, mainly by suppressing Recent studies reveal that certain parasitic plants can curb invasive alien plants or domain : www.sciencedirect.com

Most recent 'Parasitic Plant' publications

in Scopus

  1. Chromosome-scale pearl millet genomes reveal CLAMT1b as key determinant of strigolactone pattern and Striga susceptibility Hendrik N.J. Kuijer, Jian You Wang, Salim Bougouffa, Michael Abrouk, Muhammad Jamil, Roberto Incitti, Intikhab Alam, Aparna Balakrishna, Derry Alvarez, Cristina Votta, Guan Ting Erica Chen, Claudio Martínez, Andrea Zuccolo, Lamis Berqdar, Salim Sioud, Valentina Fiorilli, Angel R. de Lera, Luisa Lanfranco, Takashi Gojobori, Rod A. Wing, Simon G. Krattinger, Xin Gao, Salim Al-Babili Nature Communications, volume 15 Wednesday 11 September 2024 The yield of pearl millet, a resilient cereal crop crucial for African food security, is severely impacted by the root parasitic weed Striga hermonthica, which requires host-released hormones, called strigolactones (SLs), for seed germination. Herein, we identify four SLs present in the Striga-susceptible line SOSAT-C88-P10 (P10) but absent in the ... The yield of pearl millet, a resilient cereal crop crucial for African food security, is severely impacted by the root parasitic weed Striga hermonthica, which requires host-released hormones, called strigolactones (SLs), for seed germination. Herein, we identify four SLs present in the Striga-susceptible line SOSAT-C88-P10 (P10) but absent in the resistant 29Aw (Aw). We generate chromosome-scale genome assemblies, including four gapless chromosomes for each line. The Striga-resistant Aw lacks a 0.7 Mb genome segment containing two putative CARLACTONOIC ACID METHYLTRANSFERASE1 (CLAMT1) genes, which may contribute to SL biosynthesis. Functional assays show that P10CLAMT1b produces the SL-biosynthesis intermediate methyl carlactonoate (MeCLA) and that MeCLA is the precursor of P10-specific SLs. Screening a diverse pearl millet panel confirms the pivotal role of the CLAMT1 section for SL diversity and Striga susceptibility. Our results reveal a reason for Striga susceptibility in pearl millet and pave the way for generating resistant lines through marker-assisted breeding or direct genetic modification.
  2. Chromosome-level genome assembly of Korean holoparasitic plants, Orobanche coerulescens Bongsang Kim, So Yun Jhang, Bomin Koh, Soonok Kim, Won Jae Chi, Jeong Mi Park, Chae Eun Lim, Yoonjee Hong, Heebal Kim, Jaewoong Yu, Seoae Cho Scientific Data, volume 11 Tuesday 10 September 2024 Orobanche coerulescens is a parasitic plant that cannot complete its life cycle without a host and is incapable of photosynthesis. The habitats of O. coerulescens span the coasts of Korea and its volcanic islands, Ulleungdo and Dokdo. Those on the volcanic islands exhibit morphological differences and have distinct hosts compared to those on the pe... Orobanche coerulescens is a parasitic plant that cannot complete its life cycle without a host and is incapable of photosynthesis. The habitats of O. coerulescens span the coasts of Korea and its volcanic islands, Ulleungdo and Dokdo. Those on the volcanic islands exhibit morphological differences and have distinct hosts compared to those on the peninsula. The family of Orobanchaceae, encompassing both autotrophic and parasitic species, serves as a model for evolutionary studies of parasitic states. However, there are limited genome assemblies for the Orobanche genus. In our study, we produced approximately 100x ONT long reads to construct a chromosome-level genome of O. coerulescens. The resulting assembly has a total size of 3,648 Mb with an N50 value of 195 Mb, and 82.0% of BUSCO genes were identified as complete. Results of the repeat annotation revealed that 86.3% of the genome consisted of repeat elements, and 29,395 protein-coding genes were annotated. This chromosome-level genome will be an important biological resource for conserving biodiversity and further understanding parasitic plants.
  3. Management of the Striga epidemics in pearl millet production: a review Armel Rouamba, Hussein Shimelis, Inoussa Drabo, Kwame Wilson Shamuyarira, Emmanuel Mrema CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, volume 5 Tuesday 10 September 2024 Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) is a drought-resilient and nutritious staple food crop widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions. Worldwide, pearl millet is ranked the 6th most widely produced cereal crop after wheat, rice, maize, barley, and sorghum, with a total production of 30.5 million tons on 32.1 million hectares. In Burk... Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) is a drought-resilient and nutritious staple food crop widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions. Worldwide, pearl millet is ranked the 6th most widely produced cereal crop after wheat, rice, maize, barley, and sorghum, with a total production of 30.5 million tons on 32.1 million hectares. In Burkina Faso, it is the 3rd widely cultivated crop next to sorghum and maize, with a mean yield of 0.8 ton ha−1, far below the potential yield of 3.0 tons ha−1 attributable to various production challenges. Among the production constraints, the parasitic weed Striga species, particularly S. hermonthica is endemic and causes up to 80% yield losses under heavy infestation. Different control methods (e.g., cultural practices, chemicals and bio-herbicides) have been recommended, but they have been largely ineffective due to diverse and complex problems, including the life cycle, seed production, and prolonged seed dormancy of S. hermonthica; poor access and cost of implementation. Breeding for host plant resistance presents a cost-effective, environmentally friendly and affordable method for smallholder farmers to control and reduce Striga infestations and improve pearl millet yields. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to present the impact of S. hermonthica damage on pearl millet production and productivity and assess the effectiveness of different management methods of S. hermonthica with an emphasis on host plant resistance. The first section of the review assesses the impact of Striga infestation on pearl millet production, followed by the developmental stages of Striga, Striga infestation and damage management strategies, breeding for Striga resistance and other Striga control methods. The paper summarises genetic resources, new breeding technologies, and innovations for the precision and speed breeding of Striga-resistant cultivars. The review will guide the use of the best breeding strategies and accelerate the breeding of new pearl millet cultivars that are best-performing and resistant to S. hermonthica to reduce damage incurred by Striga infestations on farmers’ fields in Burkina Faso and related agro-ecologies.
  4. Genetic potential and inheritance pattern of agronomic traits in faba bean under free and infested Orobanche soil conditions Alaa A. Soliman, Mohamed A. Ibrahim, Manar I. Mousa, Elsayed Mansour, Yuhua He, Haitian Yu BMC Plant Biology, volume 24 Monday 09 September 2024 Background: Orobanche is an obligate parasite on faba bean in the Mediterranean region, causes considerable yield losses. Breeding tolerant faba bean genotypes to Orobanche is pivotal to sustain production and ensuring global food security, particularly considering the challenges posed by population growth. In the present study, seven faba bean lin... Background: Orobanche is an obligate parasite on faba bean in the Mediterranean region, causes considerable yield losses. Breeding tolerant faba bean genotypes to Orobanche is pivotal to sustain production and ensuring global food security, particularly considering the challenges posed by population growth. In the present study, seven faba bean lines and four testers were used in a line×tester mating design during 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 growing seasons. The eleven parents and their 28 F1 crosses were evaluated under Orobanche free and naturally infested soils. Results: The results demonstrated considerable variations among the evaluated genotypes, wide diversity among the parental materials, and heterotic effects for all studied agronomic traits under Orobanche-free and infested soils. Orbanche infestation displayed a significant adverse impact on all the studied agronomic traits. The genotypes Line1, Line2, Line3, and Line5 displayed superior performance under Orobanche-infested conditions and recorded the highest values of all studied agronomic traits. Additionally, Line1, Line2, Line3, Line5, and Line7 exhibited desirable significant GCA for most evaluated traits under the two infestation conditions. The obtained crosses displayed significant negative or positive heterosis for studied agronomic characters such as plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, and seed weight per plant were observed. Furthermore, specific cross combinations such as Line2×Sakha3, Line3×Nubaria5, Line7 × Nubaria5, Line6×Nubaria1, Line5×Sakha3, Line1×Sakha3, and Line1 × Nubaria5 exhibited superior performance in seed yield and contributing traits under Orobanche-infested conditions. Moreover, these specific crosses showed superior efficacy in reducing dry weight of Orobanche spikes. The results obtained from GGE biplot analysis closely aligned with those from the line×tester procedure, affirming the significance of GGE biplot as a valuable statistical tool for assessing genotype combining ability in line× tester data. Both additive and non-additive gene actions were reported to be predominantly involved in the inheritance of the studied agronomic traits in faba bean. Conclusions: The detected genetic diversity within the evaluated faba bean genotypes and their developed crosses exhibits substantial potential for improving faba bean productivity under Orobanche-infested conditions. The parental genotypes, Line1, Line2, Line3, Line5, and Line7, were identified as effective and promising combiners. Moreover, the developed crosses Line2×Sakha3, Line3×Nubaria5, Line7×Nubaria5, Line6×Nubaria1, Line5×Sakha3, Line1×Sakha3, and Line1×Nubaria5 could be considered valuable candidates for developing high-yielding and tolerant faba bean genotypes to Orobanche.
  5. The anticancer activity of Cuscuta campestris Yunck extract: An combined study of in vitro and in vivo experiments Emine Kilickaya Selvi, Gokhan Unal South African Journal of Botany, volume 174, pages 40-48 Monday 09 September 2024 Globally, the mortality rate attributed to cancer is on a concerning upward trajectory. Cancer, characterized by aberrations in the normal cell cycle, excessive proliferation, and abnormal differentiation, poses a formidable health challenge. Notably, breast cancer, constituting over one-third of all cancers in women, stands out as a prevalent mali... Globally, the mortality rate attributed to cancer is on a concerning upward trajectory. Cancer, characterized by aberrations in the normal cell cycle, excessive proliferation, and abnormal differentiation, poses a formidable health challenge. Notably, breast cancer, constituting over one-third of all cancers in women, stands out as a prevalent malignancy. While diverse treatment modalities are deployed in the battle against cancer, herbal remedies emerge as a compelling option for those seeking treatments with minimal side effects. Cuscuta campestris Yunck, a staple in traditional medicine renowned for its efficacy in addressing cancer and various ailments, assumes a pivotal role in herbal medicine. Our investigation delved into assessing the anticancer potential of ethanol extracts from Cuscuta campestris Yunck, employing MDA-MB-231 (triple negative breast cancer cells), RL-95-2 (endometrium cancer cells), MCF-7 (ER positive breast cancer cells), SH-SY5Y (Neuroblastoma cancer cells), COLO 205 (Colon cancer cells), and A-549 (lung cancer cells) cell lines. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract was gauged through DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP tests. Phenolic compounds of the extract was determined HPL-DAD analysis. The research delved further into the practical implications of Cuscuta campestris Yunck extract by employing a solid Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAT) model in mice. Furthermore, our study extended to scrutinizing the ethanol extractʼs anticancer efficacy across distinct phases (proliferation phase: 0–14 days, plateau phase: 14–28 days) of the solid Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAC) model in mice. Isorhamnetin was found the highest flavonol amount as 16.97 ± 1.27 mg.g−1 in the Cuscuta campestris Yunck extract. DPPH SC50 values of 0.021 ± 0.001 mg/mL, ABTS SC50 values of as 0.653 ± 0.071 mg/mL and FRAP values of as 20.122 ± 0.708 (µmol trolox/g ext), respectively. Cuscuta campestris Yunck extract significantly decreased the cell viability beginning from the 1 mg/ml concentration at the MDA-MB-231 (triple negative breast cancer) and RL-95-2 (endometrial cancer) cell lines. The research delved further into the practical implications of Cuscuta campestris Yunck extract by employing a solid Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAT) model in mice. Here, the extract exhibited a significant reduction in tumor volumes compared to the control group, pointing towards its tangible efficacy in impeding tumor growth. This multifaceted study not only sheds light on the intricate phenolic composition and antioxidant capabilities of Cuscuta campestris Yunck but also underscores its promising role as a botanical source for potential cancer treatment.
  6. A leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase enhances tomato resistance to Phelipanche aegyptiaca Lu Zhang, Zhaoqun Yao, Xiaolei Cao, Meixiu Chen, Siyu Chen, Qiuyue Zhao, Sifeng Zhao Scientia Horticulturae, volume 337 Sunday 08 September 2024 Phelipanche aegyptiaca is a devastating parasitic plant that causes substantial yield losses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) due to a lack of effective control strategies. Breeding for resistance is the most promising measure for reducing P. aegyptiaca infestation. Identifying novel resistance resources and mining the resistance genes/proteins are... Phelipanche aegyptiaca is a devastating parasitic plant that causes substantial yield losses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) due to a lack of effective control strategies. Breeding for resistance is the most promising measure for reducing P. aegyptiaca infestation. Identifying novel resistance resources and mining the resistance genes/proteins are of great interest and can help hosts achieve durable resistance. In this study, field, pot, and rhizotron experiments were conducted to assess 118 tomato varieties against P. aegyptiaca. Further proteomic research, genome-wide analysis, and genetic engineering were performed to determine the LRR-RLK genes that control tomato resistance to P. aegyptiaca. A resistant variety (‘H1015’) was identified from 118 tomato varieties, which manifested slower growth, partial necrosis, and a lower parasitic number compared to the susceptible variety (‘H2401’). Furthermore, 193 LRR-RLKs in tomato were discovered and classed into 21 groups. Among these, the expression of 10 LRR-RLK proteins was significantly different between ‘H1015’ and ‘H2401’ using proteomic data, implying that LRR-RLKs may play a pivotal function in tomato resistance to P. aegyptiaca. This finding was further confirmed by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and overexpression, through which silencing of LRR-RLK-3 compromised tomato resistance to P. aegyptiaca, while overexpression of LRR-RLK-3 enhanced resistance in Arabidopsis. These results consistently support the view that LRR-RLK-3 acts as a positive regulator to improve tomato resistance against P. aegyptiaca. Our research contributes to understanding the resistance mechanisms of hosts against parasitic plants and facilitates the breeding and application of resistant varieties.
  7. Testcross performance of Striga-resistant maize inbred lines and testers with varying levels of Striga reaction Degife Zebire, Abebe Menkir, Victor Adetimirin, Wende Mengesha, Meseka Silvestro, Melaku Gedil CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, volume 5 Saturday 07 September 2024 Background: Using a desirable tester is considered one method used to maximise genetic differences among test crosses derived from new inbred lines and improves the overall performance of maize. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the potency of the tester with varying levels of resistance to Striga hermonthica in determining the testcross performan... Background: Using a desirable tester is considered one method used to maximise genetic differences among test crosses derived from new inbred lines and improves the overall performance of maize. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the potency of the tester with varying levels of resistance to Striga hermonthica in determining the testcross performance of the hybrids for Striga resistance and yield-related traits. Method: The experiment was conducted with these test crosses and two standard checks (susceptible and tolerant) for different Striga resistance and agronomic traits during the 2018 cropping season in Abuja and Mokwa, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out in a 23 × 4 alpha-lattice design with two replications in each location. Field evaluation data was collected from Striga resistance and yield-related traits to estimate the performance of test crosses. Analysis of variance was conducted to determine the variance of the testcross performance. Results: There were significant differences among test crosses for days to silking, days to pollen shedding, ear at harvest, ear aspect, ear per plant, grain yield, Striga damage rating at 8 and 10 weeks after planting (WAP), and Striga count at 8 and 10 WAP. Variations among test crosses were always higher than the corresponding variations due to the interaction between test crosses and the environment for all traits. Conclusion: The inbred lines with low yield reduction crossed with different testers under Striga infested were recorded. These inbreds should be used to develop high-yielding hybrids and synthetics with elevated levels of Striga resistance to improve the maize breeding program.
  8. Mistletoe-infected trees facilitate invasion of the alien shrub Lantana camara in a semi-arid African savanna Donald Mlambo, Josphine Mundava Journal of Arid Environments, volume 224 Friday 06 September 2024 The co-occurrence of mistletoes and Lantana camara (hereafter, lantana) is common in southern Africa, yet little is known about how they interact. To fill this gap, we investigated whether mistletoe-infected trees facilitate lantana invasion in a semi-arid southern African savanna. We compared invasibility, native woody plant diversity and soil par... The co-occurrence of mistletoes and Lantana camara (hereafter, lantana) is common in southern Africa, yet little is known about how they interact. To fill this gap, we investigated whether mistletoe-infected trees facilitate lantana invasion in a semi-arid southern African savanna. We compared invasibility, native woody plant diversity and soil parameters beneath mistletoe-infected and non-infected trees. We trapped bird droppings beneath mistletoe-infected and non-infected trees and conducted germination experiments to check if they contained viable lantana seeds. Regardless of whether trees were legumes or non-legumes, the subcanopy environments of mistletoe-infected trees had significantly higher invasibility than non-infected trees. The probability of lantana invasion beneath trees increased with mistletoe-infection levels. Soil nutrient concentrations were higher beneath mistletoe-infected trees than non-infected trees. Subcanopy invasibility was positively correlated with soil nutrient concentrations and negatively with native woody plant diversity. We found viable lantana seeds in bird droppings beneath mistletoe-infected trees. Put together, our findings indicate that mistletoes indirectly facilitate lantana invasion by enriching soil nutrients and attracting lantana seed dispersers. Our work provides a rationale for the necessity to simultaneously manage mistletoes and lantana where they co-occur to reduce invasion of the latter.
  9. Effect of soil factors on flavonoid metabolites in Striga asiatica using LC–MS based on untargeted metabolomics Siqi Tang, Kaixin Wei, Hao Huang, Xinghua Li, Yuxin Min, Jiayi Tai, Yi Xu, Lei Chen, Shimeng Yan, Qiangqiang Xiong, Xiaojun Li Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, volume 11 Thursday 05 September 2024 Background: Striga asiatica (L.) O. Kuntze is a traditional medicinal plant rich in flavonoids, which has various pharmacological effects such as anti-hepatitis and antioxidant activities. However, there is a scarcity of resources, and artificial cultivation has not yet been achieved. This study explored the association between flavonoid metabolite... Background: Striga asiatica (L.) O. Kuntze is a traditional medicinal plant rich in flavonoids, which has various pharmacological effects such as anti-hepatitis and antioxidant activities. However, there is a scarcity of resources, and artificial cultivation has not yet been achieved. This study explored the association between flavonoid metabolites and soil physicochemical properties and trace elements in different habitats, with the aim of offering theoretical guidance for the high-quality artificial cultivation of S. asiatica. Results: The results showed that S. asiatica has low requirements for soil fertility and prefers to grow in acidic soil with high contents of potassium and available potassium, while low contents of phosphorus, nitrogen and alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen. Additionally, 1592 kinds of metabolites were identified from S. asiatica, including 78 flavonoids. Conclusions: The flavonoid metabolites were strongly related to soil factors. Reasonable application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers as well as controlling the contents of sodium, manganese and boron in the soil, can promote the synthesis of flavonoid metabolites in the plant. Moreover, kaempferide, glycitein, luteolin, apigenin and genistein may be the metabolic markers for identifying different regions. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)
  10. Egyptian broomrape (Phelipanche aegyptiaca): From foe to friend? Evidence of high nutritional value and potential suitability for food use Loai Basheer, Dalia Niv, Alisa Cohen, Roee Gutman, Yael Hacham, Rachel Amir Future Foods, volume 10 Wednesday 04 September 2024 This study investigates the potential of Egyptian broomrape (E.B.; Phelipanche aegyptiaca, Pers.), a parasitic plant, as a novel food source. This study aimed at (i) determining E.B.’s nutritional parameters, (ii) studying the effect of 10 different hosts on these values, and (iii) assessing its safety through a toxicological evaluation in mice. ... This study investigates the potential of Egyptian broomrape (E.B.; Phelipanche aegyptiaca, Pers.), a parasitic plant, as a novel food source. This study aimed at (i) determining E.B.’s nutritional parameters, (ii) studying the effect of 10 different hosts on these values, and (iii) assessing its safety through a toxicological evaluation in mice. The results showed that the host plant affects the parasite's nutritional composition. When developed on several hosts, E.B. has similar levels of proteins and total lipids as compared to quinoa seeds, as well as similar essential amino acids profile. However, the parasite shows substantially higher levels of dietary fibers than in quinoa (19.2–30.6 % DW, vs 7.1 % DW), total phenolic compounds (32.92–66.86 mg GAE/gr DW, vs 0.53 mg GAE/gr DW), ascorbic acid (3.1–6.0 mg/gr DW, vs 2.7 mg/gr DW), total ash (7.2–11.5 % DW, vs 2.6 % DW) and several minerals, but lower levels of reducing sugars (263–441 mg/gr DW, vs 479 mg/gr DW), indicating a potential for low glycemic index ingredients. The safety assessment in mice showed no significant toxic effects. These findings suggest that E.B. could be a valuable food source, warranting further investigation into its nutritional benefits and safety for human and animal consumption.
  11. Comparative fruit morphology of nine Psittacanthus Mart. (Santalales: Loranthaceae) mistletoe species occurring in Mexico Juan Francisco Ornelas, Sonia Galicia, Eduardo Ruiz-Sanchez, Carlos Lara, Francisco Molina-Freaner, Antonio Acini Vásquez-Aguilar, Etelvina Gándara, Diego F. Angulo, Andrew P. Vovides, Victoria Sosa Flora: Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, volume 319 Wednesday 04 September 2024 The genus Psittacanthus is distributed from Mexico to Argentina and contains c. 110 species. The large, lipid-rich, one-seeded fruits of Psittacanthus species frequently depend on frugivorous birds for seed dispersal; however, fruit morphology of Psittacanthus (Loranthaceae) mistletoes remain poorly studied. In this study we describe the fruit morp... The genus Psittacanthus is distributed from Mexico to Argentina and contains c. 110 species. The large, lipid-rich, one-seeded fruits of Psittacanthus species frequently depend on frugivorous birds for seed dispersal; however, fruit morphology of Psittacanthus (Loranthaceae) mistletoes remain poorly studied. In this study we describe the fruit morphology of nine Psittacanthus species. Fruits were collected from the study sites in which mistletoe plants were inhabiting contrasting habitats and host tree species. The morphological characteristics of fruits by species were described and compared with the use of inclusion and staining techniques and light microscopy. Our results show that fruit size varies among species, with P. macrantherus having the largest fruits. Most fruits have an ellipsoid to ovoid shape, color of fruits transits from green when immature to red or purple before ripening to blackish or purplish black, with color variations observed in different species, and the cupular pedicel length varying among species. Fruit sections indicate the following parts: exocarp, viscin layer, seed coat and a dicotylar to polycotylar embryo, with P. schiedeanus having the highest cotyledon count. No endosperm is present in the studied species. Our results provide valuable information for further species comparisons regarding the lack of endosperm and polycotylar embryo. Additionally, interspecific variation in cotyledon number and seed coat highlights distinct processes, including the potential effects of environmental differences.
  12. Proteomic characterization and cytotoxic potential of proteins from Cuscuta (Cuscuta epithymum (L.) crude herbal product against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line Umaima Akhtar, Yamna Khurshid, Bishoy El-Aarag, Basir Syed, Ishtiaq A. Khan, Keykavous Parang, Aftab Ahmed BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, volume 24 Tuesday 03 September 2024 Background: The burden of breast cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide, is increasing at an alarming rate. Cuscuta, used in traditional medicine for different ailments, including cancer, is known for containing phytochemicals that exhibit anticancer activity; however, the bioactivities of proteins from this plant remain unexplored. Th... Background: The burden of breast cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide, is increasing at an alarming rate. Cuscuta, used in traditional medicine for different ailments, including cancer, is known for containing phytochemicals that exhibit anticancer activity; however, the bioactivities of proteins from this plant remain unexplored. This study aimed to screen the cytotoxic potential of proteins from the crude herbal product of Cuscuta epithymum(L.) (CE) harvested from the host plants Alhagi maurorum and Medicago sativa. Methods: The proteins from CE were extracted using a salting-out method, followed by fractionation with a gel filtration chromatography column. Gel-free shotgun proteomics was subsequently performed for protein characterization. The viability assay using MTT was applied to deduce the cytotoxic potential of proteins against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with further exploration of the effect of treatment on the expression of the apoptotic mediator BCL2-associated X protein (BAX) and B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (BCL-2) proteins, using western blotting to strengthen the findings from the in vitro viability assay. Results: The crude proteins (CP) of CE were separated into four protein peaks (P1, P2, P3, and P4) by gel filtration chromatography. The evaluation of potency showed a dose-dependent decline in the MCF-7 cell line after CP, P1, P2, and P3 treatment with the respective IC50 values of 33.8, 43.1, 34.5, and 28.6 µg/ml. The percent viability of the cells decreased significantly upon treatment with 50 µg/ml CP, P1, P2, and P3 (P < 0.001). Western-blot analysis revealed upregulation of proapoptotic protein BAX in the cells treated with CP, P3 (P < 0.01), and P2 (P < 0.05); however, the antiapoptotic protein, BCL-2 was downregulated in the cells treated with CP and P3 (P < 0.01), but no significant change was detected in P2 treated cells. The observed cytotoxic effects of proteins in the CP, P1, P2, and P3 from the in vitro viability assay and western blot depicted the bioactivity potential of CE proteins. The database search revealed the identities of functionally important proteins, including nonspecific lipid transfer protein, superoxide dismutase, carboxypeptidase, RNase H domain containing protein, and polyribonucleotide nucleotidyltransferase, which have been previously reported from other plants to exhibit anticancer activity. Conclusion: This study indicated the cytotoxic activity of Cuscuta proteins against breast cancer MCF-7 cells and will be utilized for future investigations on the mechanistic effect of active proteins. The survey of CE proteins provided substantial data to encourage further exploration of biological activities exhibited by proteins in Cuscuta.
  13. Wine- and stir-frying processing of Cuscutae Semen enhance its ability to alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis via the Keap 1-Nrf2/HO-1 and PI3K/AKT pathways in H<inf>2</inf>O<inf>2</inf>-challenged KGN human granulosa cell line Yusha Liang, Yun Shi, Rong Guo, Changli Xu, Mian Fu, Jinyang Shen, Xun Gao, Weidong Li, Kunming Qin BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, volume 24 Monday 02 September 2024 Background: Cuscutae Semen (CS) has been prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for millennia as an aging inhibitor, an anti-inflammatory agent, a pain reliever, and an aphrodisiac. Its three main forms include crude Cuscutae Semen (CCS), wine-processed CS (WCS), and stir-frying-processed CS (SFCS). Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) i... Background: Cuscutae Semen (CS) has been prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for millennia as an aging inhibitor, an anti-inflammatory agent, a pain reliever, and an aphrodisiac. Its three main forms include crude Cuscutae Semen (CCS), wine-processed CS (WCS), and stir-frying-processed CS (SFCS). Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a globally occurring medical condition. The present work sought a highly efficacious multi-target therapeutic approach against POI with minimal side effects. Finally, it analyzed the relative differences among CCS, WCS and SFCS in terms of their therapeutic efficacy and modes of action against H2O2-challenged KGN human granulosa cell line. Methods: In this study, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-Q-ExactiveTM Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (MS), oxidative stress indices, reactive oxygen species (ROS), Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), real-time PCR, Western blotting, and molecular docking were used to investigate the protective effect of CCS, WCS and SFCS on KGN cells oxidative stress and apoptosis mechanisms. Results: The results confirmed that pretreatment with CCS, WCS and SFCS reduced H2O2-induced oxidative damage, accompanied by declining ROS levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in the KGN cells. CCS, WCS and SFCS upregulated the expression of antioxidative levels (GSH, GSH/GSSG ratio, SOD, T-AOC),mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the relative mRNA(Nrf2, Keap1, NQO-1, HO-1, SOD-1, CAT). They inhibited apoptosis by upregulating Bcl-2, downregulating Bax, cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3, and lowering the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. They also exerted antioxidant efficacy by partially activating the PI3K/Akt and Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. Conclusions: The results of the present work demonstrated the inhibitory efficacy of CCS, WCS and SFCS against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in KGN cells and showed that the associated mechanisms included Keap1-Nrf2/HO-1 activation, P-PI3K upregulation, and P-Akt-mediated PI3K-Akt pathway induction.
  14. Parasitism by Cuscuta gronovii mediated soil legacy effects and the competitive ability of invasive and native plant species by changing soil abiotic and biotic properties Yongge Yuan, Ayub M.O. Oduor, Yingying Zhao, Shinan Gao, Cheng Han, Junmin Li Applied Soil Ecology, volume 202 Sunday 01 September 2024 Parasitic plants can mediate soil conditioning by invasive and native host plant species, but how this may affect the competitive ability of these plants when they later grow in the conditioned soil has never been tested. This study tested whether soil conditioned by three invasive and three native plant species, either parasitized by a holoparasit... Parasitic plants can mediate soil conditioning by invasive and native host plant species, but how this may affect the competitive ability of these plants when they later grow in the conditioned soil has never been tested. This study tested whether soil conditioned by three invasive and three native plant species, either parasitized by a holoparasitic plant Cuscuta gronovii or non-parasitized, would differentially affect the competitive ability of those species. In the first phase, field soil was conditioned using individuals of the six host plant species, either parasitized or non-parasitized. The second phase tested the competitive ability of individuals of those invasive and native plants by growing them alone or in competition with Trifolium repens in either live or sterilized conditioned soil. In the soil conditioning phase, parasitism significantly increased soil NH4+-N concentration by 17 %, decreased soil organic carbon by 18 %, and marginally decreased microbial biomass carbon concentration by 21 %. In the soil feedback phase, native plant species generally had higher competitive ability in soil that was conditioned by parasitized plants than in soil that was conditioned by non-parasitized plants. In contrast, soil conditioned by parasitized plants had only a marginal effect on the competitve ability of invasive plants, compared to growth in soil conditioned by non-parasitized plants. Native plants had greater competitive ability in soil with lower soil organic carbon, while invasive plants had greater competitive ability in soil with higher microbial biomass carbon and lower NH4+-N. These findings demonstrate that parasitism by C. gronovii mediated different soil legacy effects of invasive and native plant species through changes in soil organic carbon, soil NH4+-N, and microbial biomass carbon levels. Broadly, these results suggest that parasitic plants may limit invasions by alien plant species and promote the co-existence of the invaders with native plant species through soil-mediated legacy effects.
  15. Comparative secretome analysis of Striga and Cuscuta species identifies candidate virulence factors for two evolutionarily independent parasitic plant lineages James M. Bradley, Roger K. Butlin, Julie D. Scholes BMC Plant Biology, volume 24 Wednesday 28 August 2024 Background: Many parasitic plants of the genera Striga and Cuscuta inflict huge agricultural damage worldwide. To form and maintain a connection with a host plant, parasitic plants deploy virulence factors (VFs) that interact with host biology. They possess a secretome that represents the complement of proteins secreted from cells and like other pl... Background: Many parasitic plants of the genera Striga and Cuscuta inflict huge agricultural damage worldwide. To form and maintain a connection with a host plant, parasitic plants deploy virulence factors (VFs) that interact with host biology. They possess a secretome that represents the complement of proteins secreted from cells and like other plant parasites such as fungi, bacteria or nematodes, some secreted proteins represent VFs crucial to successful host colonisation. Understanding the genome-wide complement of putative secreted proteins from parasitic plants, and their expression during host invasion, will advance understanding of virulence mechanisms used by parasitic plants to suppress/evade host immune responses and to establish and maintain a parasite-host interaction. Results: We conducted a comparative analysis of the secretomes of root (Striga spp.) and shoot (Cuscuta spp.) parasitic plants, to enable prediction of candidate VFs. Using orthogroup clustering and protein domain analyses we identified gene families/functional annotations common to both Striga and Cuscuta species that were not present in their closest non-parasitic relatives (e.g. strictosidine synthase like enzymes), or specific to either the Striga or Cuscuta secretomes. For example, Striga secretomes were strongly associated with ‘PAR1’ protein domains. These were rare in the Cuscuta secretomes but an abundance of ‘GMC oxidoreductase’ domains were found, that were not present in the Striga secretomes. We then conducted transcriptional profiling of genes encoding putatively secreted proteins for the most agriculturally damaging root parasitic weed of cereals, S. hermonthica. A significant portion of the Striga-specific secretome set was differentially expressed during parasitism, which we probed further to identify genes following a ‘wave-like’ expression pattern peaking in the early penetration stage of infection. We identified 39 genes encoding putative VFs with functions such as cell wall modification, immune suppression, protease, kinase, or peroxidase activities, that are excellent candidates for future functional studies. Conclusions: Our study represents a comprehensive secretome analysis among parasitic plants and revealed both similarities and differences in candidate VFs between Striga and Cuscuta species. This knowledge is crucial for the development of new management strategies and delaying the evolution of virulence in parasitic weeds.

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