Parasitic plants regulate C and N distribution among common mycorrhizal networks linking host and neighboring plants

Junmin Li •
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Ecology, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4418 Common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) can link multiple plants and distribute nutrients among them. However, how parasitic plants regulate the carbon and nutrient exchange between CMNs and the linked plants is unknown. Thus, we conducted a container experiment with two Trifolium pratense grown in two plastic cores and connected only by CMNs using a 25-μm nylon fabric in […]

Parasitism by Cuscuta gronovii mediated soil legacy effects and the competitive ability of invasive and native plant species by changing soil abiotic and biotic properties

Junmin Li •
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Applied Soil Ecology, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105583 Parasitic plants can mediate soil conditioning by invasive and native host plant species, but how this may affect the competitive ability of these plants when they later grow in the conditioned soil has never been tested. This study tested whether soil conditioned by three invasive and three native plant species, either parasitized […]

Genome-wide association analysis of grain yield and Striga hermonthica and S. asiatica resistance in tropical and sub-tropical maize populations

Emeline Dossa •
Figure 5-1

Emeline N. Dossa, Hussein Shimelis, and Admire I. T Shayanowako School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa This study reports novel QTL and related genes for Striga asiatica and S. hermonthica resistance in maize. No QTL associated with dual resistance was found, suggesting that […]

Inhibition of the Germination of Root Parasitic Plants by Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8

Muhammad Jamil •
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Crystalline ZIF-8 (C-ZIF-8) and amorphous ZIF-8 (Am-ZIF-8) were prepared and investigated to control the germination of Strigahermonthica, a root parasitic plant, which threatens cereal cropsproduction particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We have demonstratedthat Am-ZIF-8 shows a better performance than C-ZIF-8 in inhibitingStriga seeds germination. This efficient performance of Am-ZIF-8materials can be attributed to the incomplete deprotonation […]

Genetic diversity analysis of tropical and subtropical maize germplasm for Striga resistance and agronomic traits with SNP markers

Emeline Dossa •

Emeline N. Dossa*, Hussein Shimelis, Admire I. T. Shayanowako In this study, genetically diverse and complementary lines were selected among tropical and sub-tropical maize populations that will facilitate the breeding of maize varieties with Striga resistance and market-preferred traits. Fig 3. Sub-population inference among the 126 maize genotypes based on 16000 SNPs: (A) likelihood and […]

Dr. Begoña Pérez Vich receives Pustovoit Award

IPPS Admin •

The prestigious Pustovoit Award from the International Sunflower Association has been awarded to Begoña Pérez Vich from the IAS-CSIC in Córdoba, Spain. Begoña Pérez Vich is well-known in our society for her work on resistance in sunflowers to the #parasiticplant Orobanche cumana. […]

Carotenoids Gordon Research Conference

Salim Al-Babili •
Carotenoids Gordon Research Conference

I’m excited to share that the Gordon Research Conference on Carotenoids and Apocarotenoids is coming up! Check out the program and come join us for a great event! 2025 Carotenoids Conference GRC […]

Chromosome-scale pearl millet genomes reveal CLAMT1b as key determinant of strigolactone pattern and Striga susceptibility

Salim Al-Babili •
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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 […]