Category: Members

Our study proposes a rapid, accurate and low-cost phenotyping tool for the sunflower/O. cumana interaction under controlled conditions through image analysis for broomrape tubercle analysis at early stages of the interaction. We optimized the phenotyping of sunflower/O. cumana interactions by using rhizotrons (transparent Plexiglas boxes) in a growth chamber to control culture conditions and Orobanche inoculum. […]

Background: Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. Upon P shortage, plant responds with massive reprogramming of transcription, the Phosphate Starvation Response (PSR). In parallel, the production of strigolactones (SLs)—a class of plant hormones that regulates plant development and rhizosphere signaling molecules—increases. It is unclear, however, what the functional link is […]

K.C. Burns, International Journal for Parasitology Parasite virulence often differs between male and female hosts. However, less is known about how virulence might differ between male and female parasites. Here, I show that female plants of the dioecious mistletoe Misodendrum quadrifolium (Misodendraceae) grow larger than male plants. Correspondingly, females reduce the photosynthetic capacity of infected […]

Cistanche are a remarkable genus of parasitic plants, some of which are traded widely for herbal medicine or have historical local importance as food. Despite their importance, little or nothing is known about the biology of most species and their taxonomy remains confused, hindering identification. A growing body of research into the cultivation of pharmacologically well-characterised Cistanche taxa […]

International Druid Drone team (Ukraine-Czech Republic) developed a novel small unmanned aircraft vehicle equipped with a multifunctional manipulator designed for sampling and observation of trees and tree-dwelling organisms such as mistletoes, as well as for assistance in tree care. This lightweight backpack-size system joins an off-the-shelf unmanned aircraft system, or drone platform based on DJI […]

Endoparasitic plants are the most reduced flowering plants, spending most of their lives as a network of filaments within the tissues of their hosts. Despite their extraordinary life form, we know little about their biology. Research into a few species has revealed unexpected insights, such as the total loss of plastome, the reduction of the […]

Our recently published paper: ‘Imazapic Herbigation for Egyptian Broomrape (Phelipanche aegyptiaca) Control in Processing Tomatoes—Laboratory and Greenhouse Studies’, is a summary of preliminary studies in the lab and greenhouse investigating the science and practicality of utilizing the imidazolinone ALS-inhibiting herbicide Imazapic for selective Phelipanche aegyptiaca control in processing tomato. These studies led to field trials […]

Dr Steven Runo in a crop field with parasitic weed Striga. Image credits: Joel Masanga […]

Parasitic plants use haustorium to absorb parts or all of nutrient resources required for their growth from host plants. As a multicellular organ, the haustorium consists of different cell types, yet the knowledge on their spatial arrangement is largely limited and far lagging from that of other organs such as root and shoot. This paper […]

In a new paper, published in Journal of Plant Physiology (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153438) we show that leaf photosynthesis and a range of associated parameters is heavily impacted in rice plants when they are infected by the facultative parasitic weed Rhamphicarpa fistulosa. Previously we found that this parasite starts benefiting from its host at around 6 weeks after […]