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

lant-Pathogen Interactions and Transmissions: Unraveling the Complex Role of Pathogen Vectors in Disease Ecology MZN Dara, A Abbas, A Temitope, L Li, D Guohua… - Journal of Integrative …, 2025 - Elsevier Saturday 26 April 2025 Plant-pathogen interactions are complex, multifaceted processes involving various participants, including insect vectors and parasitic plants, that play a crucial role in the domain : www.sciencedirect.com
he overwintering situation and influencing factors of Fulmekiola serrata in Yunnan sugarcane planting areas of China J Yin, YL Gao, ZX Lu, ZM Luo, YH Li, CM Wang… - Scientific Reports, 2025 - nature.com Friday 25 April 2025 Sugarcane thrips, Fulmekiola serrata (Kobus), is a common leaf pest of sugarcane. To clarify the occurrence and overwintering of F. serrata in Yunnan sugarcane planting domain : www.nature.com
Species and race composition of root knot nematode (Meloidogyne) infecting betelvine M Modak, S Pal, P Sarkar - Indian Phytopathology, 2025 - Springer Thursday 24 April 2025 Meloidogyne species pose a significant threat to betelvine crop production in India as well as West Bengal due to the losses they cause by direct and indirect damage. The domain : link.springer.com
ver-compensation of the native herb Qiai (Artemisia argyi var. argyi cv. Qiai) to infection with alien field dodder (Cuscuta campestris) X Yu, T Wu, WB Wang, TY Ma, QY Ma, JY Zhang… - Journal of Plant …, 2025 - Springer Wednesday 23 April 2025 It is predicted that parasitic plants will more efficiently suppress host defense and impose destructive impact on agroecosystems, as they are more closely related to their domain : link.springer.com
Immature Stages of the Greater Cutworm, Feltia repleta (Walker, 1857) (Noctuidae: Noctuinae), with Notes on its Host Plants and Distribution FMS Dias, A Specht, G San Blas… - Neotropical …, 2025 - Springer Wednesday 23 April 2025 Feltia repleta (Walker, 1857), popularly known as greater cutworm in the USA and Canada and cortador grande in Latin America, is an important pest species occurring domain : link.springer.com versions : 2
Glucosylation of Endogenous Haustorium-inducing factors Underpins Kin Avoidance in Parasitic Plants L Xiang, S Cui, SB Saucet, M Takahashi, S Inaba, B Xie… - bioRxiv, 2025 - biorxiv.org Tuesday 22 April 2025 Our findings suggest that parasitic plants have Striga hermonthica (purpule witchweed) does not form prehaustoria when exposed 25 to the facultative parasitic plant domain : www.biorxiv.org
actors Influencing Emerald Ash Borer Ecological Interactions ND Borsato, E McFarlane, N Garrett… - bioRxiv, 2025 - biorxiv.org Monday 21 April 2025 Emerald ash borer beetles (Agrilus planipennis) in North America are a destructive invasive species that increase tree mortality continent-wide, resulting in major domain : www.biorxiv.org
The invasion of Cassytha filiformis accelerated the litter decomposition of native plant communities in small tropical coral islands Q Li, X Liu, K Liu, H Ren, S Jian… - BMC Plant …, 2025 - bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com Monday 21 April 2025 As an invasive parasitic plant, Cassytha filiformis has caused extensive damage to the native vegetation of the Paracel Islands. However, the effects of C. filiformis invasion domain : bmcplantbiol.biomedcentral.com versions : 2
acroptilium yellow vein virus (Begomovirus macroptilivenae) associated with Macroptilium plants is geographically structured into divergent subpopulations AM Melo, AFF Quadros, JPH da Silva… - Archives of …, 2025 - Springer Sunday 20 April 2025 The genus Begomovirus (family Geminiviridae) includes plant viruses that have a negative impact on the production of several economically important crops worldwide. domain : link.springer.com
An unexpected gills roommate from museum collections: description of a new species of Microcotyle Van Beneden & Hesse, 1863 (Mazocraeidea: Microcotylidae) … C Bouguerche - Marine Biodiversity, 2025 - Springer Sunday 20 April 2025 Natural history museums serve as vital repositories of biodiversity, offering extensive parasitological datasets crucial for taxonomical and ecological studies, supporting the domain : link.springer.com
IOACTIVITY OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI EXTRACTS RESIDING IN THE ROOTS OF MISTLETOE (Dendrophthoe pentandra) R Oktiansyah, UH Habisukan, N Noviyanto… - Berita …, 2025 - ejournal.brin.go.id Saturday 19 April 2025 Mistletoe (Dendrophthoe pentandra) is a parasitic plant that has traditional medicinal properties. This study examines the endophytic fungi found in mistletoe roots and domain : ejournal.brin.go.id
iscovery of a novel alphasatellite of the genus Clecrusatellite associated with a wide array of New World tomato-infecting begomoviruses LNA Reis, LS Boiteux, MEN Fonseca… - Archives of …, 2025 - Springer Friday 18 April 2025 A new alphasatellite was discovered via high-throughput sequencing in mixed infections with five distinct tomato-infecting begomoviruses in central Brazil, and the domain : link.springer.com
CITATION][C] Correction to: Pathogenicity of Ascochyta nigripycnidia, Didymella pinodella and Boeremia exigua isolated from Trifolium alexandrinum in Algeria and … N Ghiat, H Meamiche-Neddaf, A Infantino… - Journal of Plant …, 2025 - Springer Friday 18 April 2025 The article was originally published with a typographical error in one of the authors names. The incorrect spelling, Manu Afichard, has been corrected to Manu Affichard. domain : link.springer.com
Crowdsourced online data as evidence of absence of non-target attack from the century-old introduction of Istocheta aldrichi for biological control of Popillia japonica … V Makovetski, ABT Smith, PK Abram - Journal of Pest Science, 2025 - Springer Thursday 17 April 2025 The vast majority of historical biological control introductions have not resulted in documented negative effects on non-target species. However, in some cases, an domain : link.springer.com
Insights into stress indicators during compatible interaction between host plant Musa and viral pathogen BBTV: an in vitro study S Adil, C Dhruw, A Rathi, A Quraishi - In Vitro Cellular & Developmental …, 2025 - Springer Wednesday 16 April 2025 Musa acuminata AAA Cavendish cv. Grand Nain is susceptible to banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) and exhibits a compatible hostpathogen interaction. The BBTV- domain : link.springer.com

Most recent 'Parasitic Plant' publications

in Scopus

Mistletoe negatively impacts vigor, growth and reproduction of silver fir forests at regional and local scales J. Julio Camarero, Álvaro Rubio-Cuadrado, Éster González de Andrés, Antonio Gazol Forest Ecology and Management, volume 586 Monday 28 April 2025 Mistletoes impact their tree hosts in different ways and affect distinct processes such as growth and reproduction. However, comparative assessments of mistletoe effects on these two processes are scarce, particularly at different spatial scales. Here, we quantified how mistletoe (Viscum album L.) affected radial growth and cone production of silve... Mistletoes impact their tree hosts in different ways and affect distinct processes such as growth and reproduction. However, comparative assessments of mistletoe effects on these two processes are scarce, particularly at different spatial scales. Here, we quantified how mistletoe (Viscum album L.) affected radial growth and cone production of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.), a major European conifer. We assessed these impacts at continental (2004 −2019 period, 301 plots across Europe), regional (western Spanish Pyrenees, 0.5º W−0.5º E and 42.5º−43.0º N, 30 sites and 360 trees) and local scales (two Pyrenean stands with severe mistletoe infestation − VI and SN sites). Mistletoe abundance enhanced crown defoliation at all scales. At continental scale, the percentage of infested trees has been increasing reaching values close to 15 % in 2019. At regional scale, mistletoe infestation was severe in 19 % of sampled trees. At local scale, mistletoe infestation contributed to forest decline through growth loss and decreased cone production. Silver fir stands with more trees heavily infested by mistletoe showed abundant winter fleshy-fruited species such as Sorbus aria. Mistletoe led to lasting (12 years prior to sampling) and irreversible growth reduction (−78 % in site VI, −44 % in site SN) in severely infested trees as compared to lightly infested coexisting trees. The acute defoliation of the upper crown in severely infested trees negatively impacted cone production, but this effect was significant only at local scale. Thus, continental-wide assessments of mistletoe infestation and how it impacts defoliation, growth and cone production should be carefully validated and refined by regional and local data.
Resistance to Striga parasitism through reduction of strigolactone exudation Jiayang Shi, Cuo Mei, Fengyong Ge, Qingliang Hu, Xinwei Ban, Ran Xia, Peiyong Xin, Shujing Cheng, Gaohua Zhang, Jiawei Nie, Shiqi Zhang, Xiaowei Ma, Yi Wang, Jinfang Chu, Yuhang Chen, Bing Wang, Weihua Wu, Jiayang Li, Qi Xie, Feifei Yu Cell, volume 188, pages 1955-1966.e13 Sunday 27 April 2025 Parasitism with Striga poses a major threat to global food production. Striga germination and growth rely on strigolactones (SLs) exuded by crop roots under phosphate (Pi)-deficient conditions, although the mechanism of this host-parasite interaction remains elusive. In this study, transcriptomic and functional analyses of sorghum treated with Pi d... Parasitism with Striga poses a major threat to global food production. Striga germination and growth rely on strigolactones (SLs) exuded by crop roots under phosphate (Pi)-deficient conditions, although the mechanism of this host-parasite interaction remains elusive. In this study, transcriptomic and functional analyses of sorghum treated with Pi deficiency or the SL GR245DS identify two ABC transporter G (ABCG) transporters of SL, Sorghum biocolor strigolactones transporter 1 (SbSLT1) and SbSLT2. Using AlphaFold2 and amino acid conversion mutants, we identify highly conserved amino acids in SL transport channels essential for transport function. Sorghum lines with single or double knockouts of these transporters exhibit significantly reduced SL secretion from roots, leading to decreased Striga germination and parasitism in field experiments and consequently reducing the grain loss under Striga infestation. This study thus describes the mechanism of SL exudation in monocots and defines conserved residues essential for SL transporter function, offering a potential strategy for enhancing crop resistance to Striga parasitism.
Green synthesis of Cu/CuO nanoparticles using Cuscuta reflexa plant as an innovative organic insecticide Sushilkumar Chaudhari, Bapusaheb Shinde, Mahmood Abdullah, Akbar Inamdar, Poonam Shinde, Shaukatali Inamdar International Journal of Modern Physics B, volume 39 Saturday 26 April 2025 Cu/CuO nanoparticles (NPs) have received extensive attention owing to their tremendous antifungal and antibacterial properties. Cu/CuO NPs are used in diverse fields, viz. electronics, catalysis, photonics, biosensing, optoelectronics and many more. Herein, we described the green synthesis of Cu/CuO NPs using Cuscuta reflexa (Amarvel) plant materia... Cu/CuO nanoparticles (NPs) have received extensive attention owing to their tremendous antifungal and antibacterial properties. Cu/CuO NPs are used in diverse fields, viz. electronics, catalysis, photonics, biosensing, optoelectronics and many more. Herein, we described the green synthesis of Cu/CuO NPs using Cuscuta reflexa (Amarvel) plant material at room temperature. The prepared NPs were characterized by routine technique, viz. XRD, UV-Vis, SEM and TEM. The typical size found was merely 7–10nm using the TEM technique. The as-prepared solution of NPs was tested against the Diptera larval nymph of mosquitoes. These mosquitoes breed in monsoon (rainy season) in stagnant water. It is observed that NPs were very effective against these larvae, which were killed overnight when just four drops of the as-prepared NPs solution were directly added to a 10ml water sample containing mosquito larvae. Overall, the biosynthesized Cu/CuO NPs showed good insecticidal activity against the parasitic disease malaria-causing Anopheles mosquitoes in the larval stage itself. We believe the outcome will lead to a new era in the preparation of innovative organic insecticides.
Grass and woody species composition and diversity beneath mistletoe-infected and uninfected Sclerocarya birrea (marula) trees in two South African semi-arid savanna protected areas Tsitsi Sithandiwe Maponga, Hilton Garikai Taambuka Ndagurwa, Dave I. Thompson, Justice Muvengwi, Wayne Twine, Mightyman Mashele, Ed T.F. Witkowski South African Journal of Botany, volume 180, pages 63-73 Sunday 13 April 2025 Mistletoes increase understorey resource heterogeneity by altering animal visitations, litterfall, and soil moisture, thus support diverse understorey plants. However, their impact on understorey species composition and diversity in protected areas with small to large-sized herbivores remains unclear. We compared grass and woody species under mistl... Mistletoes increase understorey resource heterogeneity by altering animal visitations, litterfall, and soil moisture, thus support diverse understorey plants. However, their impact on understorey species composition and diversity in protected areas with small to large-sized herbivores remains unclear. We compared grass and woody species under mistletoe-uninfected and infected marula (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra) trees in the Sabie and Sabi Sand Game Reserves, with differing mean annual rainfall, 500 mm and 610 mm, respectively. Species composition varied slightly between sites and with infection level. Total species evenness was 8% higher in the wetter site, where woody species diversity indices were up to 52% higher. In contrast, grass species richness and diversity were up to 33% higher in the drier site. Functional dissimilarity (FDis), Functional divergence (FDiv), and Rao's quadratic entropy (RaoQ) were up to 23% higher in the wetter site. Infected trees had 4% greater total cover abundance, and 32% higher woody species richness than uninfected trees. Additionally, eight woody and five grass species were exclusive to infected trees, compared to two woody and three grass species under uninfected trees indicating mistletoephily. RaoQ was 8% lower beneath uninfected than infected trees. Tree height significantly influenced total cover abundance and evenness and grass species richness and evenness. Overall, rainfall had a greater effect than mistletoe infection on understorey plants, suggesting moisture limitations and that mistletoe effects are additive. Thus, by enhancing resource availability and supporting mistletoephily, the interaction of mistletoes with other factors such as rainfall influence plant heterogeneity in these low-altitude semi-arid savannas.
Report on the complete organelle genomes of Orobanche Filicicola Nakai ex Hyun, Y. S. Lim & H. C. Shin (Orobanchaceae): insights from comparison with Orobanchaceae plant genomes Sang Chul Kim, Eun Su Kang, Tae Hee Kim, Ye Rim Choi, Hyuk Jin Kim BMC Genomics, volume 26 Saturday 12 April 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.
Quantum mechanics-based structural analysis of phenolic glycosides from Cuscuta japonica seeds with protective effects against H<inf>2</inf>O<inf>2</inf>-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells Hau Thi Hong Bui, Ajay Uprety, Trung Huy Ngo, Yun Seo Kil, Punam Thapa, Jongseo Mo, Hyukjae Choi, Soo Young Kim, Joo Won Nam Phytochemistry, volume 234 Friday 11 April 2025 Japanese dodder (Cuscuta japonica Choisy) is a parasitic plant with diverse pharmaceutical properties that has demonstrated great promise for the development of dietary supplements and herbal medicines. A systematic phytochemical investigation of dodder seeds yielded 12 previously undescribed aromatic glycosides (1−12) and eight known constituent... Japanese dodder (Cuscuta japonica Choisy) is a parasitic plant with diverse pharmaceutical properties that has demonstrated great promise for the development of dietary supplements and herbal medicines. A systematic phytochemical investigation of dodder seeds yielded 12 previously undescribed aromatic glycosides (1−12) and eight known constituents (13−20) from various groups, including phenolics, flavonoids, and lignan glycosides. Compound structures were determined using a combination of high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Moreover, quantum mechanics-driven 1H iterative full spin analysis revealed intricate NMR spectral details for the isolated glycosides, including multiplicities and coupling constants that were previously ambiguous, providing crucial insight into the presence of higher-order resonance effects in the sugar units as well as long-range couplings in unsaturated molecules. Furthermore, the abilities of the plant extract as well as compounds 1, 2, 4–7, 10, 11, and 14–20 to restore cell viability and reduce reactive oxygen species production in SH-SY5Y cells suggest that C. japonica and its isolates are potential antioxidant neuroprotective therapeutic candidates.
Elucidating the evolutionary dynamics of parasitism in Cuscuta: in-depth phylogenetic reconstruction and extensive plastomes reduction Sivagami Jean Claude, Kashish Kamra, Joonhyung Jung, Hye One Kim, Joo Hwan Kim BMC Genomics, volume 26 Thursday 10 April 2025 Background: The genus Cuscuta L. (Convolvulaceae), commonly known as dodder, is a holoparasite plant that relies on host plants for nutrition, leading to significant genomic changes, particularly in plastomes. This dependency has led to significant reductions and modifications in their plastomes compared to autotrophic plants. In contrast to the we... Background: The genus Cuscuta L. (Convolvulaceae), commonly known as dodder, is a holoparasite plant that relies on host plants for nutrition, leading to significant genomic changes, particularly in plastomes. This dependency has led to significant reductions and modifications in their plastomes compared to autotrophic plants. In contrast to the well-conserved plastomes of photosynthetic plants, Cuscuta exhibits substantial genomic reductions reflecting the loss of photosynthetic functions and associated genes. Result: This study examines eight plastomes within Cuscuta and reconstructs the phylogenetic relationships among 40 Cuscuta taxa using five other genera as an outgroup. The size of plastid genome varies significantly, with the smallest being 60 kb and the largest 121 kb, highlighting extensive genomic reduction. In special cases, the subgenera Cuscuta exhibit the loss of inverted repeats, distinguishing from them other subge within the Cuscuta genus. This reduction is most pronounced in genes related to photosynthesis, such as atp, pet, psa, psb, and ycf genes, particularly in the subg. Grammica (Lour.) Peter. The study also notes the frequent and independent loss of the plastid genes infA, rpl23, rpl32, rps15, and rps16 across various angiosperm lineages, often involving transfer to the nuclear genome. In parasitic plants like Cuscuta, the ndh genes, crucial for photosynthesis, are often lost. The study also highlights that in the subg. Grammica, the matK and rpo genes, along with trnR-ACG genes, are lost in parallel, indicating that these parasitic plants do not need matK and rpo genes after the loss of ndh genes for survival. Analysis of selective relaxation pressure on plastid genes shows a reductive trend, with genes such as atp, pet, psa, psb, rpo, and ycf progressively becoming pseudogenes over time, with housekeeping genes like rpl and rps expected to follow. However, the pseudogenization process is specific to the subg. Grammica, Pachystigma (Engelm.) Baker & C.H.Wright, and Cuscuta, rather than in the subg. Monogynella (Des Moul.) Peter, Engl. & Prantl (ancient clade species). Conclusion: The study of Cuscuta plastomes reveals the profound impact of parasitism on genome evolution, highlighting the complex interplay of gene retention and loss through phylogenomic approaches. This research enriches our understanding of plant genome evolution and the intricate host-parasite relationships. It also sheds light on the evolutionary history and genomic adaptations of Cuscuta, illustrating the diverse strategies enabling subg. Grammica, Pachystigma, Cuscuta, and Monogynella thrive as parasitic species. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying parasitism and its impact on plastid genome organization.
Mistletoe on urban trees in the city of Vienna, Austria Yuliia Bilonozhko, Olha Tokarieva, Berthold Heinze, Jonathan Feichter, Andrea Kodym Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, volume 107 Wednesday 09 April 2025 A study of mistletoe on urban trees was conducted in Vienna, Austria, with the aim to determine the degree of mistletoe infection, and to identify host species that are highly susceptible or alternatively, resistant to mistletoe parasitism. At the same time, the dependence of mistletoe (Loranthus europaeus L; Viscum album L) occurrence on various f... A study of mistletoe on urban trees was conducted in Vienna, Austria, with the aim to determine the degree of mistletoe infection, and to identify host species that are highly susceptible or alternatively, resistant to mistletoe parasitism. At the same time, the dependence of mistletoe (Loranthus europaeus L; Viscum album L) occurrence on various factors was investigated. For this purpose, the tree cadastre of the city of Vienna was evaluated (the record is about 213,841 trees) and the Botanic Garden of the University of Vienna was visited. New host trees, not known in the literature, were described for the first time. The apparent spreading of mistletoes cannot be traced to a single factor; several are important and interacting. It could be shown that the presence of mistletoe in cities is closely related to the species of host tree, the location, the growing density of the trees, the age of the trees, as well as tree height. The host trees often showed marked adaptation of native tree species to mistletoe (i.e., fewer infections) and significant infection in introduced tree species. In some species, certain cultivars may be resistant or less susceptible to mistletoe than others. Among the damage or diseases observed on trees infected by mistletoe, bark damage occurred most frequently. Determining the distribution of mistletoe and the underlying factors is of great importance for green space management in cities, especially in relation to climate change.
Regulation of monocyte polarization through nuclear factor Kappa B /inhibitor of Kappa B Alpha pathway by Cuscuta chinensis Lam. In postmenopausal osteoporosis Xiaochen Li, Zhimin Wang, Yiran Chen, Ying Yang, Hanrui Shao, Xiuzhi Feng, Yanling Ren Journal of Ethnopharmacology, volume 346 Tuesday 08 April 2025 Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (CCL), is made from the dried mature seeds of a plant in the Convolvulaceae family. Predominantly distributed in China and several Asian countries, it has long been used to treat osteoporosis (OP) and other aging-related diseases. However, studies on the mechanisms of anti-OP compounds in CCL r... Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (CCL), is made from the dried mature seeds of a plant in the Convolvulaceae family. Predominantly distributed in China and several Asian countries, it has long been used to treat osteoporosis (OP) and other aging-related diseases. However, studies on the mechanisms of anti-OP compounds in CCL remain limited. Aim of the study: The objective of this study is to determine the bioactive constituents present in CCL and to elucidate their mechanisms of action in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). This will be achieved by investigating the modulation of bone marrow macrophage polarization via the Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB)/Inhibitor of Kappa B Alpha (IκBα) signaling cascade. Materials and methods: CCL's chemical components were identified using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Blood components were analyzed for targets using databases. Pathway enrichment was performed via network pharmacology. We used an ovariectomy (OVX)-induced OP rat model to assess the effects of CCL extracts in comparison to a positive control drug. Osteogenic markers were analyzed. We utilized flow cytometry to assess macrophage marker expression, while quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting were employed to identify targets within the signaling pathways. Results: Seventeen chemical components were identified in CCL extracts, of which 14 were identified as prototype compounds absorbed into the bloodstream. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that CCL's therapeutic effects on PMOP were closely associated with the NF-κB signaling pathway, specifically targeting NF-κB and IκBα proteins. Animal studies showed that high-dose CCL significantly lowered serum levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) and c-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) (p < 0.01) and increased levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and procollagen I c-terminal propeptide (PICP) (p < 0.01), indicating effective inhibition of bone resorption and promotion of bone formation. CCL treatment improved the microstructure of trabecular bone at the distal femur by reducing bone cavity spaces, increasing trabecular thickness, and enhancing trabecular alignment. CCL markedly enhanced the expression levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) genes and their corresponding proteins in the tibial tissue (p < 0.01), promoting osteoblast differentiation and function. Flow cytometry analysis showed that CCL modulated immune cell markers CD86 and CD163, supporting its anti-inflammatory effects in PMOP treatment. Furthermore, CCL regulated the NF-κB/IκBα signaling pathway by significantly decreasing NF-κB expression and increasing IκBα expression, thereby modulating inflammatory responses and bone metabolism. Conclusion: The active components in CCL effectively prevent and treat PMOP by modulating bone marrow macrophage polarization through the NF-κB/IκBα signaling pathway.
Impact of pollution on microbiological dynamics in the pistil stigmas of Orobanche lutea flowers (Orobanchaceae) Karolina Wiśniewska, Sebastian Wojciech Przemieniecki, Krzysztof Krawczyk, Anna Hoffmann, Renata Piwowarczyk Scientific Reports, volume 15 Monday 07 April 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.
Reverse traceability analysis of estrogenic active ingredients in Cuscutae semen based on intestinal and hepatic metabolism Xiangming Sun, Mingyao Zhao, Wei Liang, Hui Song, Zhongyuan Qu, Liyang Sui, Wenlan Li Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, volume 260 Sunday 06 April 2025 As a traditional Chinese medicine for reinforcing kidney, Cuscutae semen can be applied in regulating the level of estrogen. And nine direct-acting substances in vivo with estrogenic effect has been figured out according to our previous research. However, their transformation relationship and the prototype forms of some metabolites are still not cl... As a traditional Chinese medicine for reinforcing kidney, Cuscutae semen can be applied in regulating the level of estrogen. And nine direct-acting substances in vivo with estrogenic effect has been figured out according to our previous research. However, their transformation relationship and the prototype forms of some metabolites are still not clear, impeding the elucidation of the effective substances of Cuscutae semen. In this study, to reveal the metabolic pathways of nine direct-acting substances in vivo, the hepatic and intestinal metabolism of nine monomer components from Cuscutae semen were investigated using liver microsomes of female rats and intestinal flora in ovariectomized rats. Based on ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOFMS) method, a total of 35 hepatic metabolites and three intestinal metabolites were tentatively identified respectively. The proposed metabolic pathways of main metabolites were discussed. Glucuronidation binding reactions played a dominant role in the hepatic metabolism. While in the intestinal metabolism, flavonoid glycosides were hydrolyzed into the aglycones without further phase II metabolic reaction. According to the achievements above, a reverse traceability analysis of the direct-acting substances in vivo was conducted, and the metabolic transformation relationship between the components was clarified except for methylated quercetin glucuronide. It is tentatively speculated that kaempferol, quercetin, apigenin, hyperin, astragalin and isoquercitrin in Cuscutae semen are potential estrogenic effective substances, which can be used as reference for quality control.
The community perception of mistletoe management for Vachellia woodlands conservation:A case study in AlUla county, Saudi Arabia Hazem S. Kassem, Thobayet S. Alshahrani, Abdulaziz M. Assaeed, Ayman A. Abdulkarem, Lourens van Essen, László Patkó, Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad Trees, Forests and People, volume 20 Sunday 06 April 2025 The woodlands in arid regions are considered very important ecosystems that provide various ecological and economic services. The sustainable management programs for this ecosystem, such as mistletoe interventions relies on integrating socio-cultural valuations of ecosystem services with ecological assessments. However, limited research has been co... The woodlands in arid regions are considered very important ecosystems that provide various ecological and economic services. The sustainable management programs for this ecosystem, such as mistletoe interventions relies on integrating socio-cultural valuations of ecosystem services with ecological assessments. However, limited research has been conducted on community perceptions of mistletoe management. This study aims to determine the perceptions of the community in the AlUla county, Saudi Arabia, regarding the effect of mistletoe (Plicosepalus acaciae) on Vachellia woodlands and the current status of management practices, implemented and suggested for co-management with relevant authorities. An analytical framework was designed to analyze community-based management across three main areas: perception of mistletoe, the extent of its spread, and approaches to its management. Through a combination of field observations, tree surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions, the study offers valuable insights into the effects of mistletoe and management strategies. The empirical findings reveal that the local community has a stronger perception of mistletoe's adverse effects on trees, infection levels in wadis (valleys), and its transmission between trees compared to pastoralists. Most of the local community has observed mistletoe for 15–20 years, confirming the infection's progression over time. The study findings also revealed that, historically, the community has managed mistletoe in different ways, including feeding it to camels, using it in traditional medicine, and harvesting it for therapeutic purposes. The community has offered promising suggestions to enhance mistletoe control efforts, such as collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to develop business plans for mistletoe collection, conducting experiments to evaluate its potential as animal feed, and providing incentives to encourage mechanical control methods. A deeper understanding of community perceptions offers valuable insights for policymakers in decision-making and the design of collaborative mistletoe management plans.
Phenology of Psittacanthus palmeri (Loranthaceae), a deciduous mistletoe, and its host Bursera fagaroides Mónica E. Queijeiro-Bolaños, Israel G. Carrillo-Angeles, Mónica Cervantes-Jiménez, Humberto Suzán-Azpiri Flora: Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, volume 326 Saturday 05 April 2025 Deciduousness is a common trait among plants inhabiting semi-arid regions; however, this foliar habit is rare in mistletoes and has not been documented in tropical species. In Central Mexico, Psittacanthus palmeri parasitizes Bursera fagaroides trees. Both species share similar characteristics, such as shedding their leaves during the dry season an... Deciduousness is a common trait among plants inhabiting semi-arid regions; however, this foliar habit is rare in mistletoes and has not been documented in tropical species. In Central Mexico, Psittacanthus palmeri parasitizes Bursera fagaroides trees. Both species share similar characteristics, such as shedding their leaves during the dry season and having notably similar fruit morphology. To document the deciduous habit of P. palmeri and investigate whether its phenophases align with those of B. fagaroides, we evaluated the phenological changes of both species over the course of one year. Additionally, we compared the mean fruit size of both species to evaluate their morphological similarity. Both species exhibit a leafless phase during the dry season, although B. fagaroides's leafless period is more extended. Their flowering phenophases differ: B. fagaroides flowers during the dry season with an intermediate duration and mid-synchronic timing, while P. palmeri flowers during the rainy season with an extended duration and non-synchronous timing. The fruiting phase for Bursera is extended, synchronous, and even forming aerial seed bank. In contrast, the fruiting phase of P. palmeri is extended (but not more than six months), occurs during autumn-winter, and is non-synchronous. The fruits of both species are very similar in size (t = 1.086, d.f. = 118, p = 0.279) and color, suggesting they may share disperser birds, potentially enhancing seed dispersal for both species. However, this hypothesis requires further research. P. palmeri is a poorly studied mistletoe, and its unique features, such as deciduous habit, inconspicuous nature and a possible mimicry of the host, opens new opportunities of research.
Transforming parasitic weeds into sustainable natural dyes: A study of wool dyeing with Orobanche plant extract Sahereh Sepahi, Hossein Barani, Faezeh Khazaee Cleaner Engineering and Technology, volume 26 Saturday 05 April 2025 This study investigates the use of Orobanche plant extract, a parasitic weed that negatively impacts crops, as an innovative and sustainable natural dye for wool fibers. This dual-purpose approach seeks to repurpose an agricultural nuisance into a valuable dye source, thereby addressing the environmental challenges associated with synthetic dyes. T... This study investigates the use of Orobanche plant extract, a parasitic weed that negatively impacts crops, as an innovative and sustainable natural dye for wool fibers. This dual-purpose approach seeks to repurpose an agricultural nuisance into a valuable dye source, thereby addressing the environmental challenges associated with synthetic dyes. The research examines the effects of dyeing conditions and various metal mordants on the color characteristics, fastness properties, and mechanical performance of the dyed wool. The selection of the Orobanche plant is supported by its rich content of phenylpropanoid glycosides, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, which offer a wide range of colors. UV–Vis spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of key chromophores, indicating the extract's suitability for dyeing applications. Comprehensive color assessment and fastness evaluation demonstrated the influence of factors such as pH, mordant type, and dye concentration on color strength and hue angle. Fastness properties showed that copper mordant provided the best light fastness, while aluminum was the least effective. Mechanical analysis showed that tin mordant significantly reduced fiber tenacity due to its impact on disulfide bonds, whereas aluminum and iron mordants had minimal effects on strength. This research establishes Orobanche extract as an eco-friendly dye source that, when optimized, can produce wool textiles with desirable color properties, durability, and mechanical integrity. The findings promote sustainable dyeing practices by transforming a problematic weed into an eco-conscious alternative to synthetic dyes, contributing to environmental conservation and waste reduction.
Climate-driven increase in mistletoe infestation in Iberian pine forests Sira Suárez-Herrera, Daniel Moreno-Fernández, Isabel Cañellas, Iciar Alberdi, Laura Hernández Mateo, Nerea Oliveira, Fernando Montes, Patricia Adame Forest Ecology and Management, volume 582 Friday 04 April 2025 Mistletoe is a common hemiparasitic plant in forest in Spain. However, more studies on mistletoe infestations are needed to determine the spatial and temporal patterns and to develop control and monitoring programmes for forest health. For this purpose, we used harmonised data from three existing forest damage networks in Spain, including ICP-Fores... Mistletoe is a common hemiparasitic plant in forest in Spain. However, more studies on mistletoe infestations are needed to determine the spatial and temporal patterns and to develop control and monitoring programmes for forest health. For this purpose, we used harmonised data from three existing forest damage networks in Spain, including ICP-Forest, from which only national data was taken, including climatic variables to model the distribution and to predict the degree of mistletoe infection using geostatistical techniques. Having selected the variables, the spatial models were evaluated using the area under the curve statistic to predict the distribution area (AUC=0.99) and one-out cross-validation to predict the degree of infection in areas with mistletoe presence. Overall, 87 % of the pine forest area is free of mistletoe. Within the affected distribution area, the Alpine region (23 %) has the highest percentage of area affected, followed by the Mediterranean region (14 %), with no records available in the Atlantic region. Regarding mistletoe abundance, the variation throughout the study period according to damage-degree class reveals a decrease of 18.2 % in “slight” class, a decrease of 2 % in “moderate” class, an increase of 15 % in “moderate-high” class and an increase of 5.2 % in “severe” class. Our results indicate that the incidence and severity of mistletoe infection are highly spatially concentrated and strongly related to climatic conditions, especially temperature and precipitation in previous years. Prediction maps showing the spatial patterns of mistletoe distribution can be useful for damage prevention and risk control.

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