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

he root rot pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi: a long-overlooked threat to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa T Paap, F Balocchi, MJ Wingfield - Biological Invasions, 2025 - Springer Saturday 29 March 2025 The globally important plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi was first reported in South Africa in 1931, where it caused substantial damage to avocado orchards. domain : link.springer.com
Diversity and distribution of parasitic flowering plants in Iran FK Nasab, ZK Bekr, AR Mehrabian, S Rahimi… - researchgate.net Friday 28 March 2025 The first to report on the distribution patterns and diversity of parasitic plant taxa in Iran. The results of this study showed that there are 104 species of parasitic plants in Iran, domain : www.researchgate.net
Responses of four coffee varieties to infestations of the aphid Toxoptera aurantii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) A Harelimana, DT Ntirushwa Rukazambuga… - International Journal of …, 2025 - Springer Friday 28 March 2025 Insect pests can significantly reduce coffee yields. Coffee trees are susceptible to phytophagous insects, including the black citrus aphid Toxoptera aurantii, (Hemiptera: domain : link.springer.com
aize bushy stunt phytoplasma changes the emission of maize volatiles and the chemotaxis of non-infected Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) LRS Silva, MC Canale, DM Magalhães… - Arthropod-Plant …, 2025 - Springer Thursday 27 March 2025 The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, transmits phytopathogens that cause significant economic losses in Zea mays. The maize bushy stunt phytoplasma (MBSP) domain : link.springer.com
iversity and pathogenicity of anastomosis groups of Rhizoctonia associated with bottom rot of field-grown lettuce in Brazil DL Benitez-Andrade, D Aguirre-Castro… - European Journal of …, 2025 - Springer Wednesday 26 March 2025 Rhizoctonia is among the most important soilborne pathogens responsible for causing lettuce diseases worldwide. In this study, a total of 59 Rhizoctonia isolates obtained domain : link.springer.com
eveloping Striga resistance in sorghum by modulating host cues through CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing S Kaniganti, SR Palakolanu, B Thiombiano… - Plant Cell Reports, 2025 - Springer Wednesday 26 March 2025 Striga infection experiments demonstrated delayed or reduced emergence rates of Striga altering SL production to control Striga infestations. This study provides insights domain : link.springer.com
raditional medicinal plants used by ethnic communities in Senapati and Kangpokpi districts of Manipur, India: a quantitative assessment VV Gangurde, VW Kalarikkal, DY Rahangdale… - Discover Plants, 2025 - Springer Wednesday 26 March 2025 Manipur (North-East India), located inside the Indo-Burma biodiversity hot spot, has a rich history of systematic usage of traditional medicinal plants. This study aimed to domain : link.springer.com
Unveiling the endophytic fungal communities in Iranian Achillea species: molecular insights into host specificity and colonization patterns Z Eslami, Z Tazik, J Asili, V Soheili, N Akbari Oghaz… - Symbiosis, 2025 - Springer Tuesday 25 March 2025 This study aimed to explore the diversity of fungal endophytes associated with Achillea wilhelmsii and A. arabica across various plant tissues, including roots, stems, leaves domain : link.springer.com
irst record of Heterorhabditisindica (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) from Morocco and its virulence against Ceratitiscapitata (Wiedemann 1824) (Diptera … M Elqdhy, M Ait Hamza, L Askarne… - Egyptian Journal of …, 2025 - Springer Monday 24 March 2025 Background Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) represent a guild of soil-inhabiting nematodes that rapidly infect and kill insects that live in, on or near the ground domain : link.springer.com versions : 4
First record of Heterorhabditisindica (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) from Morocco and its virulence against Ceratitiscapitata (Wiedemann 1824) (Diptera … M Elqdhy, M Ait Hamza, L Askarne… - Egyptian Journal of …, 2025 - Springer Monday 24 March 2025 Background Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) represent a guild of soil-inhabiting nematodes that rapidly infect and kill insects that live in, on or near the ground domain : link.springer.com versions : 3
Impact of host switching at different larval instars on the performance of the polyphagous pest Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) B Aslan, AK Birgücü, EG Aslan - Scientific Reports, 2025 - nature.com Sunday 23 March 2025 Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a highly adaptable and destructive pest of tomato crops, posing a significant threat to global agriculture due to its domain : www.nature.com versions : 3
Identification of Nigrospora sphaerica and Curvularia lunata as causal agents of leaf spot disease in cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) in Southern Vietnam AT Hoang, TT Lam, HTP Thi, H Nguyen Thi… - Australasian Plant …, 2025 - Springer Sunday 23 March 2025 Leaf spot disease poses a significant threat to cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) production in Vietnam due to its detrimental impact on yield, fruit quality, and economic domain : link.springer.com
plismenus nacreus (Poaceae: Panicoideae), a new grass from Madagascar MS Vorontsova - Kew Bulletin, 2025 - Springer Sunday 23 March 2025 A new grass species Oplismenus nacreus from the forests of northern Madagascar is described and illustrated. It is recognisable by the white pearly sheen of its spikelets. domain : link.springer.com
erbicidal activity and crop safety of Alternaria alternata DT-XRKA and Fusarium avenaceum DT-QKBD004A H Cheng, J Li, H Zhu, Y Wei, X Wang, L Cheng - Scientific Reports, 2025 - nature.com Sunday 23 March 2025 Elsholtzia densa and Avena fatua are known as two of the most aggressive weeds, causing severe economic, environmental, human and animal health problems in China domain : www.nature.com
he presence and distribution of nematode Litylenchus crenatae ssp. mccannii, the causative agent of beech leaf disease, in forest stands across Ohio DJ Burke, M Colbert-Pitts, T Macy… - Environmental …, 2025 - Springer Saturday 22 March 2025 Fagus grandifolia is an important forest tree species in North America that has been afflicted with beech leaf disease (BLD) since 2012. BLD can lead to substantial canopy domain : link.springer.com versions : 2

Most recent 'Parasitic Plant' publications

in Scopus

  1. Interaction of Intercropped Common Bean and NPS Blended Fertilizer application reduced the severity of Striga hermontica infestation and enhanced the productivity of Sorghum in Fedis, Eastern Ethiopia Lemma Degebasa, Taye Tessema, Zelalem Bekeko, Ketema Belete Phytoparasitica, volume 53 Friday 28 March 2025 Sorghum is the main staple crop grown for food and feed in eastern Ethiopia. However, in the majorities of sorghum- producing areas of this area the parasitic weed, Striga hermonthica is the main bottleneck in reducing the productivity of the crop. Hence, in 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons field experiments were conducted in Fedis district, eastern ... Sorghum is the main staple crop grown for food and feed in eastern Ethiopia. However, in the majorities of sorghum- producing areas of this area the parasitic weed, Striga hermonthica is the main bottleneck in reducing the productivity of the crop. Hence, in 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons field experiments were conducted in Fedis district, eastern Ethiopia to assess the interaction effects of common bean intercropping and blended NPS fertilizer on severity reduction of the weed and productivity of the crop. The treatment combinations consisted of four levels of NPS blended fertilizer (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1 NPS) in a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications, using susceptible sorghum variety (Teshale) and common bean variety (Dursitu), with planting densities of (25%, 50%, and 75%). Results from the analysis of variance indicated that treatment interactions on Striga infestation caused highly significant (p < 0.001) changes. The combination of 50% common bean and 100 kg ha-1 NPS blended fertilizer application resulted in the lowest Striga count (2 Striga shoots) per plot, whereas the single planted susceptible sorghum variety (Teshale) produced the highest Striga count (8 Striga shoots) per plot. The main findings of this study consequently indicated that the host crop (sorghum) was supported by a 60% reduction in Striga hermonthica severity level when NPS fertilizer and common bean were combined. The combination of 50% common bean planting density and 100 kg NPS ha−1 blended fertilizer application yielded the maximum (2.54 t ha−1) grain yield of sorghum, while the control plot produced the lowest (0.98 t ha-1) grain yield. Hence, farmers in the study area could manage Striga and improve sorghum productivity through the combination of common bean with NPS blended fertilizer under natural Striga infestation.
  2. 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 Thursday 27 March 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.
  3. 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 Wednesday 26 March 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.
  4. 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 Wednesday 26 March 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.
  5. 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 Tuesday 25 March 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.
  6. 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 Tuesday 25 March 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.
  7. Cytogenetic comparison of Cuscuta psorothamnensis and C. veatchii (Convolvulaceae), two species originated from recurrent hybridization between the same diploid parents Amalia Ibiapino, Juan Urdampilleta, Miguel A. García, Andrea Pedrosa-Harand, Saša Stefanović, Mihai Costea Plant Systematics and Evolution, volume 311 Tuesday 25 March 2025 Genus Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae) exhibits cases of hybridization and allopolyploidy. Section Denticulatae of subg. Grammica includes four species: the allopolyploids C. veatchii and C. psorothamnensis (2n = 60), which originated from two independent reticulation events between the diploids, C. denticulata and C. nevadensis (2n = 30). The allopolyploi... Genus Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae) exhibits cases of hybridization and allopolyploidy. Section Denticulatae of subg. Grammica includes four species: the allopolyploids C. veatchii and C. psorothamnensis (2n = 60), which originated from two independent reticulation events between the diploids, C. denticulata and C. nevadensis (2n = 30). The allopolyploids are morphologically similar, but differ in their geographical distribution and host specificity. While cytogenetic data have been reported for C. veatchii, this study aims to provide a comparative analysis with C. psorothamnensis. To characterize the chromosomal complement of C. psorothamnensis and compare it with C. veatchii, we used CMA/DAPI banding, FISH, and GISH. The karyotypes of both species displayed similarity in chromosome number, size, symmetry, and interphase nucleus organization. Both species exhibited a pair of 5S and 35S rDNA sites adjacent on the same chromosome. The number of 5S rDNA sites in C. psorothamnensis is variable, with some individuals displaying four, five, and six sites. Our results show: (1) the chromosomal pair carrying adjacent 5S and 35S rDNA in C. denticulata is retained in the polyploids; (2) the loss of C. nevadensis rDNA sites occurred in both tetraploids; (3) C. psorothamnensis and C. veatchii are allopolyploids part of a species complex, originated from successive independent hybridization events between C. denticulata and C. nevadensis; and (4) C. psorothamnensis is probably more recent in origin than C. veatchii based on the degree of diploidization. This cytogenetic comparison allows us to understand the processes involved in the emergence of new polyploid species by hybridization.
  8. Striga asiatica (L.) O. Kuntze: A systematic review of morphology, traditional uses, phytochemistry, quality control, pharmacology, and modern applications Kaixin Wei, Siqi Tang, Hao Huang, Shimeng Yan, Jianyong Xing, Xiaojun Li South African Journal of Botany, volume 179, pages 160-178 Tuesday 25 March 2025 Background: Striga asiatica (L.) O. Kuntze (Orobanchaceae) is a traditional Chinese herb, which is also known as Du-jiao-jin, Du-jiao-gan, and Gan-ji-cao in Chinese. It invigorates the spleen, eliminates infantile malnutrition, clears heat and kills parasites, and it has been used as a medicine for the treatment of indigestion, malnutrition, night ... Background: Striga asiatica (L.) O. Kuntze (Orobanchaceae) is a traditional Chinese herb, which is also known as Du-jiao-jin, Du-jiao-gan, and Gan-ji-cao in Chinese. It invigorates the spleen, eliminates infantile malnutrition, clears heat and kills parasites, and it has been used as a medicine for the treatment of indigestion, malnutrition, night blindness, summer fever, diarrhea, jaundice hepatitis, throat itching, cough, and parasitic diseases in children. Aim: The purpose of this review is to provide extensive information on the research progress of S. asiatica, which includes morphology, seed characteristics, authentication and quality evaluation, traditional uses, phytochemistry, quality control, pharmacology and modern applications. Methods: Scientific databases, such as Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar and SciFinder, along with the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), were searched to obtain relevant literature. Additionally, monographs, Flora of China and the Chinese pharmacopoeia were consulted as sources of reference. Results: This review revealed that S. asiatica seeds have unique germination characteristics, which are promoted by a variety of germination stimuli, including mainly host secretions and chemical stimuli. Moreover, 85 compounds have been isolated and identified from S. asiatica, including flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, steroids, organic acids, polysaccharides and other compounds. The in vivo and in vitro pharmacological effects of S. asiatica extracts or compounds have been proven to include a wide range of activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimalarial, cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifertility, and antiandrogenic activities. Moreover, some modern pharmacological investigations and clinical practices have proved that S. asiatica has marked therapeutic efficacy for infantile malnutrition, inflammation and parasitic diseases. Conclusions: In the future, further studies on S. asiatica should focus on the seed germination mechanism, phytochemistry, quality control, toxicity, and pharmacological mechanism.
  9. 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 24 March 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.
  10. 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 Monday 24 March 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.
  11. 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 Monday 24 March 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.
  12. 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 Monday 24 March 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.
  13. 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 Monday 24 March 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.
  14. Relationship between morphological and genetic diversity of Phelipanche aegyptiaca in Xinjiang China Nana Zhao, Nannan Ge, Timothy L. Grey, Sheng Qiang Pest Management Science, volume 81, pages 2225-2236 Monday 24 March 2025 BACKGROUND: Phelipanche aegyptiaca is one of the most noxious parasitic weedy broomrapes in Xinjiang, China. Understanding its morphological polymorphism and genetic diversity can support effective control strategies. This study investigated the morphological and genetic diversity among and within populations from different geographical regions and... BACKGROUND: Phelipanche aegyptiaca is one of the most noxious parasitic weedy broomrapes in Xinjiang, China. Understanding its morphological polymorphism and genetic diversity can support effective control strategies. This study investigated the morphological and genetic diversity among and within populations from different geographical regions and host species across Xinjiang to characterize their relationships. RESULTS: Thirteen ISSR primers were used, resulting in 173 clear bands, 172 of which (99%) were polymorphic. Significant genetic variations were observed within regional and host groups, while variation among groups was relatively low. Gene flow was frequent, with a significant correlation of 1.57 between geographic regions and 5.57 between host species groups. Morphological traits exhibited substantial variability, with diverse coefficients ranging from 16% to 50%. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that samples primarily clustered by region, not by host species. There was a significant correlation between morphological and genetic diversity across geographical groups. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that genetic and morphological diversity are key factors in the expansion of P. aegyptiaca's host-range and its spread. Morphological diversity appears to result from the interaction between genetic variation and environmental factors. This study offers new insights into the adaptation and evolution of P. aegyptiaca in relation to its genetic, morphological diversity and dissemination. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
  15. 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 Sunday 23 March 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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