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.
Latest News
- First National Symposium on Parasitic Plants Successfully Concluded in Kunming, China
- Haustorium 88 is now available for download on the IPPS website.
- The role of soil microbiota in the control of parasitic weeds
- November IPPS Seminars by Guillaume Brun and Martina Leso
- Field resistance to Orobanchaceae: beyond strigolactones
- Mistletoe magic: How two parasitic plants team up to feed birds in the desert
Upcoming: The 18th World Congress On Parasitic Plants (WCPP): 14-20 June 2026, Ilhabela, Brasil.
For more information see Society news.
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Most recent ‘Parasitic Plant’ publications
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A Novel Hyperspectral Imaging Approach for Early Detection of Broomrape Infestation in Tomato Plants
2 days ago - … for early detection of broomrape in tomato by combining … at stages prior to broomrape emergence. We found that … physiological impact of Orobanche parasitism on tomato … more..
Parasitic Pachypygus gibber poses a silent threat to reproduction and development in Ciona robusta
2 days ago - Pachypygus gibber, an ascidicolous copepod of the family Notodelphyidae, is commonly found within the pharyngeal basket of Ciona robusta, a pivotal model species in … more..
Parasitic Plants: Their Distribution, Economic Damages and Methods of Control
3 days ago - Parasitic plants are specialized flowering plants that depend partially or completely on host plants for water and nutrients through specialized structures known as … more..
The floral ABCs of Hydnora, one of the most bizarre parasitic plants in the world, and its autotrophic relatives of the order Piperales
4 days ago - Hydnora (Hydnoraceae) comprises a few parasitic species exceptional among the autotrophic members of the perianth-bearing Piperales. Flowers in the genus are thick, … more..
Host suitability and parasitism of Trichogramma pretiosum on Galleria melonella and Corcyra cephalonica for the management of fall armyworm
4 days ago - Eggs of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) and the Indian meal moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stalion were evaluated as hosts for mass-rearing Trichogramma … more..
Parasitic gastritis in wild sunda pangolins (Manis Javanica), Singapore
5 days ago - Gastrointestinal parasites have been reported in wild Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica), but the clinical significance of such detections is often unknown. This report … more..
Analysing the morphological variation of the Galápagos mistletoe Phoradendron berteroanum (DC.) Griseb. using herbarium specimens
5 days ago - The hemiparasitic mistletoe Phoradendron berteroanum (DC.) Griseb. in the Galápagos shows remarkable morphological variation suggesting either clinal or abrupt … more..
Pemetaan Pola Sebaran Anggrek Epifit di Kawasan Taman Wisata Alam Sicike-Cike
5 days ago - Epiphytic orchids (Orchidaceae) are non-parasitic plants that grow attached to trees and play a vital role in maintaining the balance of tropical forest ecosystems. Their … more..
Most recent 'Parasitic Plant' publications
in Scopus
Corrigendum to "Semen Cuscutae-Fructus Lycii improves spermatogenic dysfunction by repairing the blood-testis barrier in rats according to in silico and in vitro methods" [J Ethnopharmacol. 274 (2021) 114022
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, volume 355, pages 120189
Saturday 15 November 2025
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Antidiabetic and Antihyperlipidemic Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Cuscuta reflexa on High-fat Diet and Streptozotocin-Induced Type 2 Diabetic Rats
Natural Products Journal, volume 16
Sunday 09 November 2025
Aims: Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. has been traditionally utilized as an ethnomedicinal agent for managing various ailments, including diabetes, jaundice, and rheumatic issues. This investigation aimed to evaluate the oral hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Cuscuta reflexa (HAECR) in rats with diabe...
Aims: Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. has been traditionally utilized as an ethnomedicinal agent for managing various ailments, including diabetes, jaundice, and rheumatic issues. This investigation aimed to evaluate the oral hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Cuscuta reflexa (HAECR) in rats with diabetes induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ). Additionally, the study sought to identify the bioactive compounds responsible for these effects in Cuscuta reflexa. Background: To date, only a few attempts have been made to isolate the lead bioactive compound from Cuscuta reflexa, highlighting the need for further exploration of this herb through bioactivity-guided fractionation. The isolation and characterization of the responsible lead molecules could pave the way for developing a new, safer therapeutic option compared to conventionally used drugs. Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the oral hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Cuscuta reflexa (HAECR) in a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats, along with elucidating the responsible bioactive compounds of Cuscuta reflexa. Methods: The hydroalcoholic plant extract was standardized by marker calibration by HPLC and, subsequently, phytochemical screening by LC-MS. Column chromatography was adopted to isolate bioactive compounds from the extract, which NMR, FT-IR, and MS spectroscopy subsequently characterized. Oral antihyperglycemic activity and toxicity studies were performed, and antioxidant activities were studied. Results: No deaths or behavioural changes were observed during the toxicity study up to 2000 mg/kg oral dosing. Other toxicological parameters, such as deviations in organ weights, and haematological, and histological parameters, were also not observed. 250 mg/kg dose of HAECR exhibited significant antihyperglycemic activity (56.9% reduction in blood glucose level) in diabetic rats. In the HAECR-treated groups, significant reductions were observed compared to the control group, with cholesterol levels decreasing by 57%, triglycerides by 50%, SGPT by 50%, and SGOT by 30%. Considering the extensive analytical spectroscopy interpretation results, Quercetin and Stigmasterol are the two possible isolated compounds from our extract. Conclusion: Thus, this study suggested the antihyperlipidemic and antihyperglycemic activity of HAECR, which may be attributed to phytomolecules such as Stigmasterol and Quercetin. Therefore, our findings from the investigated part of the herb could be regarded as an adjunctive agent for treating diabetes mellitus.
Network pharmacological analysis and experimental verification of semen cuscutae in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, volume 30, pages 2702-2711
Saturday 08 November 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.
Marula understorey plant species diversity varies among communal rangelands with limited response to mistletoe infection intensity
South African Journal of Botany, volume 187, pages 489-510
Friday 07 November 2025
Communal rangelands are losing biodiversity and ecosystem function due to land clearing, deforestation, and climate change. However, mistletoes can enhance plant communities by increasing litterfall, soil moisture, and soil fertility. This study examined the effects of mistletoe infection (uninfected, low, and high) on Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caf...
Communal rangelands are losing biodiversity and ecosystem function due to land clearing, deforestation, and climate change. However, mistletoes can enhance plant communities by increasing litterfall, soil moisture, and soil fertility. This study examined the effects of mistletoe infection (uninfected, low, and high) on Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra understorey plant assemblages, herbaceous biomass, and herbivory across three sites with different rainfall levels (590 mm, 655 mm, and 695 mm). At the broader community scale, species composition varied significantly across sites, but remained similar across mistletoe infection levels. At a fine, species level scale, the mistletoephily index showed species-specific preferences for different infection levels. The intermediate rainfall site had lower total species richness, diversity, and grass diversity than the other sites. Herbaceous biomass was higher in the wetter than the drier site, while forb and tree richness and diversity were greater in the drier site. Mistletoe infection and its interaction with rainfall site significantly influenced grass and forb diversity. Our findings suggest that moisture is limiting, typical of semi-arid savannas, while mistletoe effects are additive. Therefore, rainfall site influences host tree resource acquisition and competition, shaping understorey plant heterogeneity, while mistletoes provide additional facilitative effects that may further enhance communal rangeland resilience.
Mistletoe Viscum coloratum maintains a stable mutualistic network in temperate forest by strategic seed provisioning to avian dispersers
Global Ecology and Conservation, volume 64
Friday 07 November 2025
Mutualistic interactions between plants and their seed dispersers are essential for maintaining global biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Mistletoe (Viscum coloratum), avian dispersers, and host trees form a distinctive ecological network, providing an insightful model for monitoring the mutualistic system dynamics, so it's crucial to identify t...
Mutualistic interactions between plants and their seed dispersers are essential for maintaining global biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Mistletoe (Viscum coloratum), avian dispersers, and host trees form a distinctive ecological network, providing an insightful model for monitoring the mutualistic system dynamics, so it's crucial to identify the functional roles of these species in mutualism networks. This study maps the structural composition of mistletoe seed-dispersal network, and clarify the key species and processes that underpin network stability in temperate forest ecosystem. By combining field surveys, laboratory feeding experiments, germination trials, and meta-analyses, we revealed the mistletoe mutualism network exhibited high nestedness, moderate modularity, and strong connectivity. Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) and Aspen (Populus davidiana) were respectively the key animal and plant species in this network. Although mistletoe fruits are not the preferred food of Bohemian waxwing, the fruit consumption frequency increased to 73.53 % during food-scarce winters, and their digestion significantly promoted the germination rate of mistletoe seeds. Additionally, infection by mistletoe elevated the mortality of host trees. To balance the own population survival and host sustainability, mistletoe reduces fruit attractiveness and prolongs the persistence period in winter. The dynamic equilibrium of the mistletoe–host system is jointly determined by dispersal intensity, host availability, fruit retention time, and the competitive fruit sources, through which mutualistic network stability is maintained by an “moderate dispersal” strategy between mistletoe and its seed disperser. These findings advance our understanding of mistletoe seed-dispersal mechanisms and also provide new insights into the stability of plant–animal mutualistic networks.
Efficacy of the herbal product of Cuscuta campestris Yunck. and Polypodium vulgare L. in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A triple-blind clinical trial
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, volume 354
Tuesday 04 November 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
BMC Genomics, volume 26
Monday 03 November 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
Scientific Reports, volume 15
Monday 03 November 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.
Parasitic plant Cistanche tubulosa shapes the bacterial community structure and functional composition of the salt-tolerant host Tamarix chinensis across different parasitic statuses
Environmental Microbiome, volume 20
Sunday 02 November 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><sup>+</sup>, 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.
Galactosylated liposomes for targeted encapsulation and enhanced cytotoxicity of Mistletoe Lectin, an antitumoral type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein
International Journal of Pharmaceutics X, volume 10
Sunday 02 November 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.
Molecular and agronomic assessment of faba bean genotypes identifies resistance to Orobanche crenata infestation
Scientific Reports, volume 15
Saturday 01 November 2025
Faba bean (Vicia faba L.)(V. faba), an essential legume in Egypt, is severely impacted by broomrape (Orobanche crenata) (O. crenata), a parasitic weed that feeds on roots, making chemical control difficult without harming the crop. Three faba bean genotypes (Giza-843, Misr-3, and Sakha-3) along with nine pure lines were evaluated for resistance t...
Faba bean (Vicia faba L.)(V. faba), an essential legume in Egypt, is severely impacted by broomrape (Orobanche crenata) (O. crenata), a parasitic weed that feeds on roots, making chemical control difficult without harming the crop. Three faba bean genotypes (Giza-843, Misr-3, and Sakha-3) along with nine pure lines were evaluated for resistance to broomrape in field trials (2021–2023) using gene barcoding (rbcL, rpoC1), ten Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers, and phonological and agronomic traits to identify resistance sources. Five faba bean genotypes—Giza 843, Lines 2, 7, 8, and 9—significantly reduced all broomrape growth and productivity traits. Line 5 had the lowest spike length, fresh and dry spike weight, number of spikes/m<sup>2</sup>, and number of capsules/spike across both seasons. Genotypes Line 5, Line 6, and Misr 3 exhibited the highest seed yield per plot and hectare under normal and broomrape-infested conditions. Line 4 showed the lowest yield reductions, followed by Lines 9 and 8. The study generated 103 amplicons with a polymorphism rate of 51.46%, with SCoT-10 being the most informative marker, revealing 69% polymorphism and affecting 13 amplicons. Three faba bean genotypes showed significant genetic diversity, high seed output, and effectively reduced broomrape growth, highlighting their potential for genetic improvement and sustainable use in future research. Four faba bean genotypes, namely Sakha 3, Line 2, Line 4, and Line 9, are promising genotypes for combating broomrape infestation.
Predicting parasitic plants Loranthus Europaeus range shifts in response to climate change
Scientific Reports, volume 15
Saturday 01 November 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
Scientific Reports, volume 15
Friday 31 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)
Scientific Reports, volume 15
Thursday 30 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
BMC Plant Biology, volume 25
Wednesday 29 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.
Parasitic Plants on Blusky
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