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

roomrape–host interaction: host morphology and physiology as metrics for infestation A Cochavi - Planta, 2025 - Springer Saturday 30 November 2024 Parasitic plants, particularly those in the their physiological status, parasitic plants development is linked to early developmental stages of parasitic plants, spanning from domain : link.springer.com
ong-Distance Transport of Mrna via Parenchyma Cells and Phloem across the Host–Parasite Junction in Cuscuta DS Rakefet, S Runo, B Townsley, J Machuka, N Sinha - ir-library.ku.ac.ke Friday 29 November 2024 It has been shown that the parasitic plant dodder (Cuscuta pentagona) establishes a continuous vascular system through which water and nutrients are drawn. Along with domain : ir-library.ku.ac.ke
Strigolactones Initiate the Formation of Haustorium-like Structures in Castilleja M Bürger, D Peterson, J Chory - iScience, 2024 - Elsevier Friday 29 November 2024 Strigolactones serve as germination signals for several root-parasitic plant species within the Orobanchaceae family. Yet, their role in the life cycle of the facultatively domain : www.sciencedirect.com
he First Macrofossil Record of Parasitic Plant Flowers from an Eocene Baltic Amber W Huang, W Liu, X Wang - Heliyon, 2024 - cell.com Thursday 28 November 2024 Parasitic plants left little trace in the macrofossil record, making their evolutionary history mysterious. Baltic amber and other fossil lagersttts have provided plenty of domain : www.cell.com versions : 2
Parasitism Affects Entomofauna Dynamics in Infected and Uninfected Plants: A Case Study of Orobanche anatolica Parasitizing Salvia absconditiflora Ç Özenirler - Insects, 2024 - mdpi.com Thursday 28 November 2024 This study examines the relationship between a parasitic plant and its host, focusing The findings indicate that while some parasitic plants do not rely on pollinators, they domain : www.mdpi.com
ivergent receptors shape strigolactone perception in a facultative parasitic plant S Yoshida - Plant And Cell Physiology, 2024 - academic.oup.com Wednesday 27 November 2024 Parasitic plants in the Orobanchaceae parasitic plants like Striga spp., SL perception via KAI2d receptors trigger seed germination. In contrast, facultative parasitic plants, domain : academic.oup.com versions : 2
erformance Prediction and Stability of Hybrid Maize in Contrasting Striga Environments SA Oyekale, B Badu-Apraku - Available at SSRN 5035132 - papers.ssrn.com Wednesday 27 November 2024 Striga-free conditions could predict their performance in Striga-infested environment; (ii) identify Striga yield and tolerance/resistance to Striga stress. To achieve the above, domain : papers.ssrn.com
apping an avirulence gene in the sunflower parasitic weed Orobanche cumana and characterization of host selection based on virulence alleles Á Calderón-González, B Fernández-Melero… - BMC Plant …, 2024 - Springer Tuesday 26 November 2024 Sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) is a an avirulence gene in parasitic plants using a classical the structure of broomrape populations subjected to domain : link.springer.com versions : 4
RNA interference as a resistance mechanism against parasitic weeds S Runo - ir-library.ku.ac.ke Monday 25 November 2024 Parasitic plants by transforming the host with RNA interference (RNAi) vectors that target the parasite's essential genes. RNAi plants against Striga against Striga, maize is domain : ir-library.ku.ac.ke
ЗАРАЖЕННЯ ВОВЧКОМ (ОROBANCHE CUMANA WALLR.) РІЗНИХ ГІБРИДІВ СОНЯШНИКУ З НЕОДНАКОВОЮ СТІЙКІСТЮ ДО ПАРАЗИТУ СГ Хаблак, ВМ Спичак - Вісник Уманського …, 2024 - journals.udau.cherkasy.ua Sunday 24 November 2024 Stages of interaction between the parasitic plant and its host from the broomrape infection are very precise and adjusted in time. As a rule, the penetration of broomrape domain : journals.udau.cherkasy.ua
CHAPTER TEN: WEED MANAGEMENT IN ARABLE CROP PRODUCTION CG Michael, NA Gworgwor, A Ishaka - researchgate.net Sunday 24 November 2024 Their recommendations for striga management include the use of cultural and agronomic practices, herbicides and host plant resistant when available. Lagoke et al.(2006) domain : www.researchgate.net
Investigating lncRNAs at different levels of parasitism in parasitic plants WFC Rodrigues, LO Pires, LE Del-Bem, JK Ishida - bioRxiv, 2024 - biorxiv.org Saturday 23 November 2024 Parasitic plants exhibit unique adaptations, including specialized structures like haustoria and reduced organs. We analyzed genomic and transcriptomic data from nine domain : www.biorxiv.org
Use of RNA interference and overexpression of purple acid phosphatase genes in management of parasitic plants AE Alakonya - ir-library.ku.ac.ke Saturday 23 November 2024 ; To date, there is no effective parasitic plant control strategy that has been adopted by against the parasitic plants Cuscuta pentagona, Striga hermonthica and Orobanche domain : ir-library.ku.ac.ke
Vrste roda očanica (Euphrasia spp.)–botanička obilježja, kemijski sastav i upotreba Ž Maleš, S Gagić, S Jurić, V Arsić - Farmaceutski glasnik, 2025 - croris.hr Saturday 23 November 2024 Is a genus in the Orobanchaceae family comprising small herbaceous, semi-parasitic plants with blue-white flowers. It is widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and North domain : www.croris.hr
Irrigation infrastructure upgrading and downy mildew screening nursery field establishment to sustain pearl millet breeding activities at Lake Chad Research institute … MA Dawud, Z Turaki, A Ahmed, M Kyari, H Ngulde… - 2024 - cgspace.cgiar.org Saturday 23 November 2024 Highlights key areas for improvement, including upgrading irrigation and germplasm storage systems, identifying and fencing sites for downy mildew and Striga domain : cgspace.cgiar.org

Most recent 'Parasitic Plant' publications

in Scopus

  1. 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 Wednesday 04 December 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.
  2. Egyptian broomrape (Phelipanche aegyptiaca): From foe to friend? Evidence of high nutritional value and potential suitability for food use Loai Basheer, Dalia Niv, Alisa Cohen, Roee Gutman, Yael Hacham, Rachel Amir Future Foods, volume 10 Wednesday 04 December 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.
  3. Occurrence and life cycle of broomrape (Phelipanche aegyptiaca Pers.) on mustard (Brassica campestris L.) in Northeastern regions of Rajasthan Sarita Kumari, Ridhi Joshi, Rishi Kesh Meena, Preeti Mishra Journal of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, volume 13, pages 169-176 Tuesday 03 December 2024 Broomrape (Phelipanche and Orobanche) weeds are parasitic on a variety of dicotyledonous plant species, severely harming important cash crops all over the world. The process of broomrape infestation in mustard fields (oilseed crop) is poorly understood in Rajasthan. Over the past few years, the number of broomrape-contaminated mustard fields has in... Broomrape (Phelipanche and Orobanche) weeds are parasitic on a variety of dicotyledonous plant species, severely harming important cash crops all over the world. The process of broomrape infestation in mustard fields (oilseed crop) is poorly understood in Rajasthan. Over the past few years, the number of broomrape-contaminated mustard fields has increased in many regions of Rajasthan. Field surveys were conducted to investigate the occurrence of broomrape in mustard-growing areas of northeastern Rajasthan. Field studies were also carried out in the extensively broomrape-infested mustard fields in the Nawalgarh region of Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan, India) (27°51'0.00" N 75°16'12.00" E) to evaluate the life stages and severity of broomrape infestation. Phelipanche aegyptiaca Pers. (Egyptian broomrape) was found infesting the fields of Brassica campestris L. Field experiments were conducted to record all the underground and aerial life stages of P. aegyptiaca. Among all the visited plots, the Mukandgarh region exhibited the highest incidence and severity of P. aegyptiaca during the emerging, flowering, and fructification stages, whereas the Nawalri region displayed the lowest incidence and severity at each stage. Mustard yield and quality were severely affected by the Phelipanche infestation. With an average of 50% disease incidence in most of the plots, flowering and fructification stages of broomrape are the most difficult to control and cause 100% infestation to the crop. The interrelationship of P. aegyptiaca and B. campestris is not studied extensively, especially in Rajasthan. To date successful control of this weed is not achieved. The present investigation will help understand the histological interactions of P. aegyptiaca on B. campestris about days of sowing (DAS). These interactions will certainly help to design cultural and biological control strategies by determining the most effective timing of control concerning the timeline of germination and infestation of P. aegyptiaca.
  4. The first macrofossil record of parasitic plant flowers from an Eocene Baltic amber Weijia Huang, Wenzhe Liu, Xin Wang Heliyon, volume 10 Tuesday 03 December 2024 Parasitic plants left little trace in the macrofossil record, making their evolutionary history mysterious. Baltic amber and other fossil lagerstätts have provided plenty of angiosperm fossils, there are only three reports of fossil leaves (cf. Schoepfia republicensis and Schoepfia sp. 1) related to Schoepfiaceae until now, making many hypotheses ... Parasitic plants left little trace in the macrofossil record, making their evolutionary history mysterious. Baltic amber and other fossil lagerstätts have provided plenty of angiosperm fossils, there are only three reports of fossil leaves (cf. Schoepfia republicensis and Schoepfia sp. 1) related to Schoepfiaceae until now, making many hypotheses related to its evolution untested. Here we report a fossil corolla and stamens of a probable schoepfiaceous flower (Schoepfiaceae, Santalales) from late Eocene (37.8–33.9 Ma ago) of Kaliningrad, Russia. Unlike previously reported flowers, the new fossil is characterized by its five fused petals bearing adnate stamens. This character assemblage points to an affinity of Schoepfiaceae. This is the debut of schoepfiaceous flower in the macrofossil record, shedding a new light on the evolution of this poorly understood family. Its unexpected occurrence in Russia adds information to the discussion on the history of Schoepfiaceae.
  5. The early dodder gets the host: decoding the coiling patterns of Cuscuta campestris with automated image processing Max Bentelspacher, Erik J. Amézquita, Supral Adhikari, Jaime Barros, So Yon Park Plant Cell Reports, volume 43 Tuesday 03 December 2024 Key message: We developed an in-house Python-based image analysis pipeline to investigate the movement patterns of Cuscuta. Our analysis unveiled that the coiling and circumnutation movements of Cuscuta are regulated by its intrinsic circadian rhythm. Abstract: Cuscuta spp., commonly known as dodders, are rootless and leafless stem parasitic plants... Key message: We developed an in-house Python-based image analysis pipeline to investigate the movement patterns of Cuscuta. Our analysis unveiled that the coiling and circumnutation movements of Cuscuta are regulated by its intrinsic circadian rhythm. Abstract: Cuscuta spp., commonly known as dodders, are rootless and leafless stem parasitic plants. Upon germination, Cuscuta starts rotating immediately in a counterclockwise direction (circumnutation) to locate a host plant, creating a seamless vascular connection to steal water and nutrients from its host. In this study, our aim was to elucidate the dynamics of the coiling patterns of Cuscuta, which is an essential step for successful parasitism. Using time-lapse photography, we recorded the circumnutation and coiling movements of C. campestris at different inoculation times on non-living hosts. Subsequent image analyses were facilitated through an in-house Python-based image processing pipeline to detect coiling locations, angles, initiation and completion times, and duration of coiling stages in between. The study revealed that the coiling efficacy of C. campestris varied with the inoculation time of day, showing higher success and faster initiation in morning than in evening. These observations suggest that Cuscuta, despite lacking leaves and a developed chloroplast, can discern photoperiod changes, significantly determining its parasitic efficiency. The automated image analysis results confirmed the reliability of our Python pipeline by aligning closely with manual annotations. This study provides significant insights into the parasitic strategies of C. campestris and demonstrates the potential of integrating computational image analysis in plant biology for exploring complex plant behaviors. Furthermore, this method provides an efficient tool for investigating plant movement dynamics, laying the foundation for future studies on mitigating the economic impacts of parasitic plants.
  6. 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 Tuesday 03 December 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.
  7. Nutrient mediation of sink strength in the Orobanche minor – Red clover association Mao Hattori, Clarissa Frances Frederica, Louis John Irving Environmental and Experimental Botany, volume 228 Monday 02 December 2024 Holoparasites are non-photosynthetic plants which derive all their growth requirements from their host plant and are thought to act as a very strong sink for host resources. Here, we grew red clover plants in split-root boxes to explore the effect of nutrient supply to Orobanche minor parasitized or unparasitized host roots. Where nutrients were su... Holoparasites are non-photosynthetic plants which derive all their growth requirements from their host plant and are thought to act as a very strong sink for host resources. Here, we grew red clover plants in split-root boxes to explore the effect of nutrient supply to Orobanche minor parasitized or unparasitized host roots. Where nutrients were supplied to parasitized roots, parasite growth was strongly promoted at the expense of the host. Conversely, host growth did not differ significantly from unparasitized controls where nutrients were supplied to unparasitized roots. While 15N labelling suggested both strong parasitic ammonium abstraction and reduced nitrate uptake in parasitized roots, the total N content of systems where nutrients were fed to parasitized roots was approximately 26 % higher than control plants, suggesting that changes in host and parasite growth rates were due to changes in sink strength, rather than nutrient uptake. Parasitism and nutrient supply had strong effects on leaf carbohydrate metabolism but did not affect photosynthetic rates or leaf N concentration. In the second experiment, we investigated the importance of light level on the host – parasite relationship, concluding that parasitism had a diminished effect on host growth under low light conditions. Total system mass was unaffected by the apparent sink strength of the parasite. Our results suggest a dynamic relationship between host shoot and parasite sink strengths, mediated by changes in nutrient status.
  8. 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 Monday 02 December 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.
  9. Functional traits of Ziziphus mucronata below mistletoe-infected trees in a semi-arid African savanna Tsitsi S. Maponga, Hilton G.T. Ndagurwa, Ed T.F. Witkowski South African Journal of Botany, volume 176, pages 241-247 Sunday 01 December 2024 Mistletoes are increasingly associated with elevated leaf litter, soil nutrients, and soil moisture, resources which influence variations in plant functional traits. Despite this recognition, variations in the functional traits of understorey plants with overstorey (host) tree mistletoe infection are yet to be examined. Here, we measured the differ... Mistletoes are increasingly associated with elevated leaf litter, soil nutrients, and soil moisture, resources which influence variations in plant functional traits. Despite this recognition, variations in the functional traits of understorey plants with overstorey (host) tree mistletoe infection are yet to be examined. Here, we measured the different functional traits (height, stem diameter, canopy area, leaf area, specific leaf area, whole-leaf thickness, leaf dry matter content, and chlorophyll content) of Ziziphus mucronata, a dominant woody plant beneath mistletoe-infected Vachellia karroo trees in semi-arid savanna. Two-sample t-tests were used to compare host size, mistletoe infection intensity, and trait variables between low and high mistletoe-infected trees. The relationships between Ziziphus mucronata functional traits vs. host tree diameter and the number of mistletoes per tree were explored using regression analysis and visualized using a regression biplot based on a redundancy analysis (RDA). Host tree height, canopy area, and canopy volume were strongly positively (r > 0.7, p < 0.05) related to mistletoe infection intensity. While most of the traits did not vary with mistletoe infection, the chlorophyll content and leaf area of understorey Z. mucronata increased with host tree size, being greater beneath high than low mistletoe-infected trees. These variations are linked to changes in limiting resources such as light, soil nutrients, and soil moisture due to accumulation of mistletoes and increase in size as the host tree ages. As a result, the understorey plants shifted from being resource conservative to being acquisitive as limiting resources increased. The general lack of trait plasticity in understorey Z. mucronata suggests that plastic allocation responses may not be a general consequence of mistletoe infection.
  10. 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 Sunday 01 December 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.
  11. Semen Cuscutae-Fructus Lycii attenuates tripterygium glycosides-induced spermatogenesis dysfunction by inhibiting oxidative stress-mediated ferroptosis via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway Yutian Zhu, Jiacheng Zhang, Qiuning Liu, Xiyan Xin, Lei Dong, Bin Wang, Haisong Li, Dong Li, Jingshang Wang, Siqi Guan, Yang Ye Phytomedicine, volume 135 Saturday 30 November 2024 Background: Semen Cuscutae and Fructus Lycii (SC-FL) is known for its potential therapeutic effects on spermatogenesis dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms of SC-FL in alleviating spermatogenesis dysfunction is still being elucidated. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of SC-FL on spermatogenesis dysfunction and investigate... Background: Semen Cuscutae and Fructus Lycii (SC-FL) is known for its potential therapeutic effects on spermatogenesis dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms of SC-FL in alleviating spermatogenesis dysfunction is still being elucidated. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of SC-FL on spermatogenesis dysfunction and investigate the involved mechanisms, specifically focusing on the modulation of oxidative stress and ferroptosis. Methods: A mouse model of spermatogenesis dysfunction was induced by tripterygium glycosides, followed by treatment with SC-FL. Assessment of testicular spermatogenic function in the mice was performed alongside lipidomics analysis to investigate the metabolic mechanisms of SC-FL. The effects on oxidative stress and ferroptosis-related markers were evaluated, the chemical constituents of SC-FL were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and network pharmacology analysis was carried out. Additionally, an in vitro model of spermatogenesis dysfunction was established using triptolide-induced GC-1 cells, which were treated with Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) and flavonoids from Semen Cuscutae (FSC) to explore their impact on cell damage, oxidative stress-mediated damage, and ferroptosis. Results: SC-FL improved the mouse model of spermatogenesis dysfunction by inhibiting oxidative stress-mediated ferroptosis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that LBP and FSC relieved GC-1 cell damage, with their mechanisms also associated with the inhibition of oxidative stress-mediated ferroptosis. Conclusion: SC-FL alleviates spermatogenesis dysfunction in animal and cell models, potentially through the modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, which consequently inhibits oxidative stress-mediated ferroptosis in spermatogonial cells.
  12. From parasitic life to health-promoting applications - A versatile goldmine discovered in nature's secret treasure chest: Orobanche nana Inci Kurt-Celep, Sakina Yagi, Stefano Dall'Acqua, Stefania Sut, Engin Celep, Savas Kaya, Avni Berisha, Sathish Kumar M. Ponnaiya, Kamalavarshini Balakrishnan, Evren Yildiztugay, Gokhan Zengin Food Bioscience, volume 62 Friday 29 November 2024 Studies evaluating the phytoconstituents and therapeutic potential of species belonging to Orobanche (Family Orobanchaceae) are rather limited. The present study was designed to evaluate the chemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and cytotoxic properties of the aerial parts of Orobanche nana Noë ex Rchb. Extracts were prepared by seq... Studies evaluating the phytoconstituents and therapeutic potential of species belonging to Orobanche (Family Orobanchaceae) are rather limited. The present study was designed to evaluate the chemical composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and cytotoxic properties of the aerial parts of Orobanche nana Noë ex Rchb. Extracts were prepared by sequential maceration in dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and ethanol and finally an aqueous extraction by infusion were performed. NMR and LC-DAD-MS analysis allowed the identification of different phytoconstituents including the characteristic compounds of Orobanche like verbascoside, poliumoside, orobanone and orobanchoside. The ethanol extract displayed the highest total phenolic (115.63 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (16.53 mg RE/g) contents, antiradical (DPPH = 623.70 mg TE/g; ATBS = 843.50 mg TE/g) and ions reducing (Cu++ = 725.39; Fe+++ = 617.70) properties while the aqueous extract exerted the best chelating power (19.54 mg EDTAE/g). It was determined that EtOH and Water extracts applied to HepG2 cells decreased the levels of anti-apoptotic proteins p-NFκB, BCL-2 and BCL-XL, while increasing the levels of apoptotic proteins BAX and p-53, thus inhibiting cell survival. In addition, Orobanche nana played an active role in the rearrangement of overexpress MMPs that cause disruption of ECM homeostasis. We employed Network Pharmacology to investigate the mechanisms through which Orobanche nana's compounds impact Kidney and Liver diseases. These findings suggested that O. nana could be a promising source of bioactive molecules with potential therapeutic applications.
  13. Effects of Hosting Trees on Chemical Composition, Minerals, Amino Acid, Fatty Acid Composition and Gas-Methane Production of Mistletoe (Viscum album) Leaves Beyza Ciftci, Safa Karaman, Adem Kamalak, Mahmut Kaplan Waste and Biomass Valorization, volume 15, pages 6803-6812 Friday 29 November 2024 Effects of hosting trees on feed quality traits of mistletoe samples were investigated in this study. Mistletoe samples were collected from pine, willow, hawthorn, locust, apricot, wild pear and almond trees. Effects of hosting trees on nutritional traits of mistletoe leaves were found to be significant. The greatest crude protein content was obser... Effects of hosting trees on feed quality traits of mistletoe samples were investigated in this study. Mistletoe samples were collected from pine, willow, hawthorn, locust, apricot, wild pear and almond trees. Effects of hosting trees on nutritional traits of mistletoe leaves were found to be significant. The greatest crude protein content was observed in samples collected from locust tree and the greatest crude oil from pine tree, the greatest crude ash from apricot tree, the lowest ADF and NDF ratios from hawthorn tree. Condensed tannin contents of mistletoe samples varied between 0.68 and 0.97% and the differences in condensed tannin contents of mistletoe samples were not found to be significant. Apricot (53.85 ml) and wild pear (54.48 ml) had the greatest gas production and willow tree (10.61 ml) had the greatest methane production. Metabolizable energy (ME) values varied between 8.49 and 10.82 MJ (kg/DM) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) values varied between 58.26 and 73.97%. Although all samples were rich in minerals, pine tree was prominent for micro elements. The major saturated acids found in the leaf oils were palmitic acid and the major unsaturated fatty acids were oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. The total saturated fatty acid levels of mistletoe collected from different trees were between 13.42 and 25.68%, while the total unsaturated fatty acids were between 74.32 and 86.58%. Mistletoe samples have amino acid content similar to forage crops. In addition, they have high value of proline. It was concluded based on present findings that mistletoe samples might constitute a quality feed source for animals. Use of parasitic mistletoe species in animal feeding may offer a well method in reduction of damages on forest and culture trees and supply a quality feed source for ruminants. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)
  14. 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 Thursday 28 November 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.
  15. New Mistletoe host for the butterfly herbivory in an island ecosystem Neelam Purti, Lal Ji Singh, Arun K. Pandey Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, volume 17, pages 663-677 Thursday 28 November 2024 Hemi parasitic Loranths viz. Dendrophthoe curvata (Blume) Miq., D. glabrescens (Blakely) Barlow, D. longensis L.J. Singh and Macrosolen andamanensis L.J. Singh has been recorded here for the first time as new host plants for larvae of Delias hyparete indica (Wallace, 1867) of Pieridae and Tajuria cippus cippus (Fabricius, 1798) of Lycaenidae butter... Hemi parasitic Loranths viz. Dendrophthoe curvata (Blume) Miq., D. glabrescens (Blakely) Barlow, D. longensis L.J. Singh and Macrosolen andamanensis L.J. Singh has been recorded here for the first time as new host plants for larvae of Delias hyparete indica (Wallace, 1867) of Pieridae and Tajuria cippus cippus (Fabricius, 1798) of Lycaenidae butterfly in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Impact of herbivory of these butterflies on Loranths host plants is assessed along with its life history and conservation status of hosts is described in great detail. D. longensis and M. andamanensis are critically endangered and endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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