I am excited to share our latest paper on the role of strigolactone structural diversity in the host specificity and control of Striga, a major constraint to sub-Saharan agriculture

Mahdere Shimels •
ppp310549-fig-0004-m

Summary The parasitic plant genus Striga causes major yield losses to several crops such as sorghum, millet, and rice in arid and semi-arid regions of the tropics. For Striga to successfully parasitize its host plant, two conditions should be fulfilled: suitable germination conditions and the presence of a host plant that exudes so-called germination stimulants, strigolactones, that are also […]

IPPS and WCPP on video

IPPS Admin •

As part of a campaign to promote Japan as venue for international meetings a video was made about the 17th World Congress on Parasitic Plants in Nara, Japan See here for the website where the video is posted. […]

New IPPS Executive Committee members elected

IPPS Admin •

The Society is pleased to announce the results of its recent elections for the Executive Committee that will start its service to the IPPS from 1 August 2024: The position for Treasurer was not up for election, and Prof. dr. Renate Wesselingh (University of Louvain, Belgium) will continue her service to the IPPS in that […]

IPPS poster prizes 17th World Congress on Parasitic Plants, Nara, Japan

IPPS Admin •

The International Parasitic Plant Society (IPPS) has the tradition to award prizes for the best three posters at the World Congress for Parasitic Plants. This year at the 17th WCPP in Nara, poster prizes were awarded to: 1st Poster Prize (500 EUR): Akiyoshi Yoda, Tohoku Univ: Regulation of strigolactone as a symbiotic rhizosphere signal in […]

17th World Congress on Parasitic Plants, Nara, Japan

IPPS Admin •

The 17th World Congress on Parasitic Plants (WCPP) took place in Nara, Japan, from 3-7 June, 2024. About 160 participants from all continents (except Antarctica) attended the meeting, 140 of which on site. The meeting was superbly organised by a local organising team, led by Satoko Yoshida (Chair; NAIST), Atsushi Okazawa (Vice chair; Osaka Metro. […]

18th WCPP will take place in Brazil

IPPS Admin •

We are delighted to announce that the 18th World Congress on Parasitic Plants will take place Ilha Bela, Brazil in 2026. The meeting will be organized in a collaborative effort by Gregorio Ceccantini (USP, Brazil), Domancar Orona-Tamayo (CIATEC, Mexico), and Francisco Fonturbel (PUVC, Chile). We look forward to welcoming many parasitic plant enthusiasts and share exciting […]

From Haustorium 85: CRISPR-edited crops break new ground in Africa. Scientists in the global south use the popular technique to protect local crops against local threats

IPPS Admin •

Molecular biologist Steven Runo once thought that his team would make history as the first to plant gene-edited seeds in African soil. The competition turned out to be stiffer than he’d anticipated. A research group working on maize ‘beat us by two or three months’, says Runo, who works at Kenyatta University in Nairobi and […]

From Haustorium 85: Parasitic weeds threaten tomato plants on Californian farms

IPPS Admin •

At first glance, Orobanche ramosa looks like an interesting blossoming plant, one that could add a unique flair to flower arrangements. But it’s a parasitic weed that attaches to roots, sucks out nutrients and is threatening California’s lucrative $1.5 billion processing tomato industry. Its resurgence is concern for state regulators and industry, which is helping […]