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

Upcoming: The 18th World Congress On Parasitic Plants (WCPP): 2026, Ilha Bela, Brasil.

For more information see the website and Society news

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

Go to Photos for Hi-res Downloads

Become a member to get access to hi-res versions of above photos.

Recent Vacancies

Member benefits

Discount

Get a member discount for our biennial congress

Meet

Entry in and access to the member’s directory

Inform & get informed

Have access to IPPS seminars; post news on parasitic plants

Meet our talent

Post vacancies for jobs in parasitic plant research

A picture tells

Non-commercial usage rights of the photo gallery

Become a member or renew your membership

Most recent ‘Parasitic Plant’ publications

on the Web

arasitic-plant parasite utilizes flowering pathways at unconventional stages to form stem-derived galls K Bessho-Uehara, NJ Udandarao, Y Yamashita… - bioRxiv, 2024 - biorxiv.org Saturday 19 October 2024 Galls induced by various organisms exhibit diverse morphological and physiological characteristics, involving complex plant-insect interactions. Most transcriptome domain : www.biorxiv.org
Association mapping identifies stable loci containing novel genes for developmental and reproductive traits in sorghum HD Upadhyaya, L Wang, AH Paterson, CLL Gowda… - …, 2024 - cdnsciencepub.com Thursday 17 October 2024 Landraces are ideal for identifying genes related to adaptation. The purpose of this study was to map and identify genes related to adaptation. We evaluated a mini core domain : cdnsciencepub.com
Spatially Resolved Screening for Potentially Bioactive Plant Volatiles in Push-Pull Fields in Western Kenya J Lang, SE Ramos, L Reichert… - … Molecular Features of …, 2024 - zora.uzh.ch Thursday 17 October 2024 The focal crop, usually maize or sorghum, with a legume of the Desmodium genus, which releases root exudates that suppress the growth of parasitic witchweed (Striga domain : www.zora.uzh.ch
Genetic Variation in Dry Lowland Sorghum Landraces of Abergelle, Northern Ethiopia B Fantaye - Adv Crop Sci Tech, 2024 - researchgate.net Wednesday 16 October 2024 Variance for days to emergence, days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, panicle length, number of seeds per panicle, thousand grain weight, grain yield and striga domain : www.researchgate.net
rom parasitic life to health-promoting applications-a versatile goldmine discovered in nature's secret treasure chest: Orobanche nana I Kurt-Celep, S Yagi, S Dall'Acqua, S Sut, E Celep… - Food Bioscience, 2024 - Elsevier Tuesday 15 October 2024 Studies evaluating the phytoconstituents and therapeutic potential of species belonging to Orobanche (Family Orobanchaceae) are rather limited. The present study was domain : www.sciencedirect.com
Biological Activities and Potential Applications of Phytotoxins M Masi - Toxins, 2024 - mdpi.com Monday 14 October 2024 For the control of parasitic plants and fungal phytopathogens that can Among them, Orobanche cumana is an obligate for the control of parasitic plants [Contributions 2]. domain : www.mdpi.com
robanque, avances en el diagnóstico y control S Díaz, G Galdames - sidalc.net Sunday 13 October 2024 Malezas parsitas del gnero Orobanche y Phelipanche - conocidas vulgarmente de malezas holoparsitas cuarentenarias (Orobanche spp) que contaminan semillas y domain : www.sidalc.net
CONTROL OF OROBANCHE CUMANA WALLR: RESEARCH ON SUSTAINABILITY OF SUNFLOWER HYBRIDS AND STRATEGIES FOR PARASITE PROTECTION S Khablak Sr, L Bondareva, M Dolia, Y Blume… - bioRxiv, 2024 - biorxiv.org Sunday 13 October 2024 To the broomrape parasite. to broomrape in soil culture using a modified method and the roll method of seed germination. From the northern Steppe of Ukraine, broomrape domain : www.biorxiv.org
Occurrence and Effect of Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium globosum and A. vaginatum) in High-elevation Forests in México JJA Zúñiga, RLH Bobadilla, SF Maass… - Trees, Forests and …, 2024 - Elsevier Saturday 12 October 2024 On high mountain forests (>3500 masl), which face various ecological problems associated with global change including the proliferation of pests and parasitic plants. domain : www.sciencedirect.com
robanque:[Orobanche ramosa] ciclo vital y fundamentos para su control S Díaz - sidalc.net Friday 11 October 2024 El orobanque es un grave problema en diversos pases de Africa, Amrica, Europa y Oriente Medio, donde causa importantes perdidas en la produccin de tabaco y domain : www.sidalc.net
Comparative and Evolutionary Analyses of Organelle Genomes MA Caraballo-Ortiz, Z Ren, X Su, MJC Crabbe - Frontiers in Genetics - frontiersin.org Thursday 10 October 2024 This research topic focuses on studies of organelle genomes, which has been a highly active area of research during the last years. Our focus on organelle genomes domain : www.frontiersin.org
he peptide hormone PjCLE1 stimulates haustorium formation in the parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum A Greifenhagen, H Ruwe, V Zimmer… - Proceedings of the …, 2024 - pnas.org Thursday 10 October 2024 Phtheirospermum japonicum is a hemiparasitic plant of the Orobanchaceae, the largest family of parasitic plants. It extracts water and nutrients from other plants through domain : www.pnas.org versions : 2
he peptide hormone Pj CLE1 stimulates haustorium formation in the parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum A Greifenhagen, H Ruwe, V Zimmer… - Proceedings of the …, 2024 - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Thursday 10 October 2024 Phtheirospermum japonicum is a hemiparasitic plant of the Orobanchaceae, the largest family of parasitic plants. It extracts water and nutrients from other plants through domain : pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Trees, Forests and People JJA Zúniga, RLH Bobadilla, SF Maass… - researchgate.net Wednesday 09 October 2024 On high mountain forests (> 3500 masl), which face various ecological problems associated with global change including the proliferation of pests and parasitic plants. domain : www.researchgate.net
EMIBIOTROPHIC INFECTION OF SUNFLOWER ROOT CELLS BY THE PARASITE OROBANCHE CUMANA WALLR. S Khablak Sr, V Spychak, Y Abdullaieva, Y Blume - bioRxiv, 2024 - biorxiv.org Wednesday 09 October 2024 Sunflower hybrids by Orobanche cumana was studied of sunflower infection, broomrape initially develops as a process of sunflower broomrape infection opens a new domain : www.biorxiv.org

Most recent 'Parasitic Plant' publications

in Scopus

  1. Host-driven phenotypic and phenological differentiation in sympatric races of a parasitic plant Clara de Vega, Pedro L. Ortiz, Montserrat Arista Flora: Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, volume 320 Monday 21 October 2024 Host specificity is a key factor influencing the ecology and evolutionary diversification of parasitic organisms. Host specialisation and geographic isolation are known to lead to the genetic differentiation of allopatric races in parasitic plants. However, how divergence can co-occur in sympatry remains largely unknown. We investigated phenologica... Host specificity is a key factor influencing the ecology and evolutionary diversification of parasitic organisms. Host specialisation and geographic isolation are known to lead to the genetic differentiation of allopatric races in parasitic plants. However, how divergence can co-occur in sympatry remains largely unknown. We investigated phenological and phenotypic differentiation and potential reproductive isolation among three sympatric genetic races of Cytinus hypocistis (Cytinaceae) - an extreme endophytic holoparasite with a high degree of host specialisation. We compared spatio-temporal variations in flowering phenology, flower production, floral longevity, floral rewards, and morphology, and conducted inter-race pollinations among three races parasitising Cistus ladanifer, C. salviifolius, and Halimium halimifolium (Cistaceae) in six co-occurring populations. We found that host-defined genetic races differed significantly across multiple phenotypic and phenological aspects – a phenomenon previously overlooked due to the plants’ cryptic morphology. The race parasitising H. halimifolium showed earlier blooming, higher floral display, longer flowers, and higher pollen production and nectar concentration; the race on C. salviifolius showed later flowering, significantly lower floral display and smaller flowers with lower floral rewards; the race on C. ladanifer had intermediate characteristics. Genetic races were interfertile yet may remain differentiated by restricted gene flow and host-driven selection pressures. Together, our data point to a rare case of sympatric divergent evolution hiding in plain sight: apparently morphologically similar co-occurring parasite races can be genetically, phenotypically, and phenologically distinct. This hitherto unreported example of host-driven sympatric diversification challenges how species concepts are applied to cryptic parasitic plant races.
  2. Occurrence and effect of dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium globosum and A. vaginatum) in high-elevation forests in México José Jonathan Aguirre Zúñiga, Rosa Laura Heredia Bobadilla, Sergio Franco Maass, Todd S. Fredericksen, Angel Rolando Endara Agramont Trees, Forests and People, volume 18 Sunday 20 October 2024 Climate change has very important effects on high mountain forests (>3500 masl), which face various ecological problems associated with global change including the proliferation of pests and parasitic plants. These sensitive ecological systems cover approximately 39,000 ha of Mexican territory and occur around some of the highest volcanoes in the c... Climate change has very important effects on high mountain forests (>3500 masl), which face various ecological problems associated with global change including the proliferation of pests and parasitic plants. These sensitive ecological systems cover approximately 39,000 ha of Mexican territory and occur around some of the highest volcanoes in the country. The objective of this research was to determine the spatial distribution and infestation levels of dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium spp.) in the main populations of Pinus hartwegii in five mountains of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic System (Pico de Orizaba, Nevado de Toluca, Cofre de Perote, Nevado de Colima and Monte Tláloc) and identify infestation patterns in relation to the structure of the forest. In the study, 2658 sampling sites (1000 m² each) were installed using the contour lines as access transects to the forest, distributed at every 100 of altitude, between 3500 and 4000 masl. Approximately 32 % of the sampled area had some level of attack by dwarf mistletoe, distributed across all diameter categories of the trees. The infestations affected the establishment of natural regeneration and rates of tree mortality.
  3. 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 19 October 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.
  4. 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 Friday 18 October 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.)
  5. Optimization and pharmacological evaluation of phytochemical-rich Cuscuta reflexa seed extract for its efficacy against chlorpyrifos-induced hepatotoxicity in murine models Tahira Batool, Sobia Noreen, Fozia Batool, Gamal A. Shazly, Shahid Iqbal, Ali Irfan, Saira Batool, Shazia Akram Ghumman, Maryam Basharat, Sara Hasan, Samina Aslam, Yousef A.Bin Jardan Scientific Reports, volume 14 Thursday 17 October 2024 The popular organophosphorus (OP) compound chlorpyrifos (CP) has recently gained significant attention due to its health risks, particularly among farmers exposed to OP pesticides. This study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity of Cuscuta reflexa seed extract (CRSE) and its efficacy of mitigating the adverse effects of CP in albino male mice. For ... The popular organophosphorus (OP) compound chlorpyrifos (CP) has recently gained significant attention due to its health risks, particularly among farmers exposed to OP pesticides. This study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity of Cuscuta reflexa seed extract (CRSE) and its efficacy of mitigating the adverse effects of CP in albino male mice. For acute toxicity analysis, the first group was served as the control group, while the second group was received CRSE (200 mg/kg/bw) on the first day of the 14-day experiment. For hepatotoxicity analysis, the first group was the control group, the second group (vehicle control) received corn oil (CO) (2 mL/kg/bw), the third group was given CP (20 mg/kg/bw) dissolved in corn oil and the fourth group was given CP (20 mg/kg/bw) along-with CRSE (200 mg/kg/bw) orally via gavage once daily for 21 days. The acute toxicity examination revealed no statistically significant differences between the CRSE-treated and control groups in serum biochemical indicators and histopathological analyses of various organs, suggesting that CRSE as safe at a dosage of 200 mg/kg/bw, with an oral LD50 in mice higher than 200 mg/kg. The hepatotoxicity study demonstrated that the CP administration resulted in liver damage and oxidative stress, while CRSE acted as an antioxidant and attenuated the signs of oxidative stress in liver damage. Hence, a promising therapeutic approach for lowering CP hepatotoxicity is co-treatment with CRSE.
  6. 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 Sunday 13 October 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.
  7. 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 Saturday 12 October 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.
  8. 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 Friday 11 October 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.
  9. 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 Friday 11 October 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.
  10. Potential Plant-To-Plant Transmission: Shared Endophytic Bacterial Community Between Ziziphus lotus and Its Parasite Cuscuta epithymum Nabil Radouane, Khaoula Errafii, Salma Mouhib, Khadija Ait Mhand, Jean Legeay, Mohamed Hijri Microbial Ecology, volume 87 Thursday 10 October 2024 Microbiota associated with host–parasite relationships offer an opportunity to explore interactions among plants, parasites, and microbes, thereby contributing to the overall complexity of community structures. The dynamics of ecological interactions between parasitic plants and their hosts in arid environments remain largely understudied, especi... Microbiota associated with host–parasite relationships offer an opportunity to explore interactions among plants, parasites, and microbes, thereby contributing to the overall complexity of community structures. The dynamics of ecological interactions between parasitic plants and their hosts in arid environments remain largely understudied, especially in Africa. This study aimed to examine the bacterial communities of Cuscuta epithymum L. (clover dodder), an epiphytic parasitic plant, and its host, Ziziphus lotus L. (jujuba), in an arid environment. Our goal was to uncover the ecological complexities of microbial communities within the framework of plant–plant interactions. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the bacterial composition and diversity within populations of the C. epithymum parasite, the infected- and non-infected jujuba host, and their interface at the shoots of the host. This involved amplicon sequencing, targeting the V5–V6 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. A total of 5680 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified, with Pseudomonadota, Bacillota, and Actinobacteriota being prevalent phyla. Among the bacterial communities, three genera were dominant: Cutibacterium, Staphylococcus, and Acinetobacter. Interestingly, analyses of alpha-diversity (p = 0.3 for Shannon index and p = 0.5 for Simplon index) and beta-diversity (PERMANOVA, with p-values of 0.6 and 0.3) revealed no significant differences between Cuscuta-infected and non-infected jujube shrubs, suggesting a shared shoot endophytic bacteriome. This finding advances our comprehension of microbial communities linked to plant–parasite interactions in the arid environments of Africa. Further research on various hosts is required to confirm plant-to-plant bacterial transmission through Cuscuta infection. Additionally, studies on functional diversity, cytology, ecophysiology and the mechanisms by which bacterial communities transferred between host and parasite are necessary.
  11. Genome-wide association analysis of grain yield and Striga hermonthica and S. asiatica resistance in tropical and sub-tropical maize populations Emeline N. Dossa, Hussein Shimelis, Admire I.T. Shayanowako BMC Plant Biology, volume 24 Thursday 10 October 2024 Background: Genetic improvement for Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa) resistance is the most economical and effective control method to enhance the productivity of maize and other major cereal crops. Hence, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with Striga resistance and economic traits will guide the pace and precis... Background: Genetic improvement for Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa) resistance is the most economical and effective control method to enhance the productivity of maize and other major cereal crops. Hence, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with Striga resistance and economic traits will guide the pace and precision of resistance breeding in maize. The objective of this study was to undertake a genome-wide association analysis of grain yield and Sh and Sa resistance among tropical and sub-tropical maize populations to identify putative genetic markers and genes for resistance breeding. 126 maize genotypes were evaluated under controlled environment conditions using artificial infestation of Sh and Sa. The test genotypes were profiled for grain yield (GY), Striga emergence counts at 8 (SEC8) and 10 (SEC10) weeks after planting, and Striga damage rate scores at 8 (SDR8) and 10 (SDR10) weeks after planting. Population structure analysis and genome-wide association mapping were undertaken based on 16,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Results: A linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis in 798,675 marker pairs revealed that 21.52% of pairs were in significant linkage (P < 0.001). Across the chromosomes, the LD between SNPs decayed below a critical level (r2 = 0.1) at a map distance of 0.19 Mbp. The genome-wide association study identified 50 significant loci associated with Sh resistance and 22 significant loci linked to Sa resistance, corresponding to 39 and 19 candidate genes, respectively. Conclusion: The study found non-significant QTL associated with dual resistance to the two examined Striga species Some of the detected genes reportedly conditioned insect and pathogen resistance, plant cell development, variable senescence, and pollen fertility. The markers detected in the present study for Sa resistance were reported for the first time. The gene Zm00001eb219710 was pleiotropic, and conditioned GY and SEC10, while Zm00001eb165170 affected SDR8 and SDR10, and Zm00001eb112030 conditioned SDR8 and SDR10 associated with Sh resistance. The candidate genes may facilitate simultaneous selection for Sh and Sa resistance and grain yield in maize after further validation and introgression in breeding pipelines. Overall, we recommend breeding maize specifically for resistance to each Striga species using germplasm adapted to the endemic region of each parasite.
  12. 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 Thursday 10 October 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.
  13. 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 Wednesday 09 October 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.
  14. 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 Wednesday 09 October 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.
  15. 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 Tuesday 08 October 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.

Parasitic Plants on X [fka Twitter]

Use hashtag #parasiticplants to get your own tweets listed in this overview. 
Load More...

© Copyright IPPS 2010-2024 • Disclaimer • Privacy • Terms and conditions • Contact