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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Most recent ‘Parasitic Plant’ publications

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The soil microbiome modulates the sorghum root metabolome and cellular traits with a concomitant reduction of Striga infection D Kawa, B Thiombiano, MZ Shimels, T Taylor… - Cell Reports, 2024 - cell.com Wednesday 27 March 2024 The root parasitic weed Striga hermonthica. Existing Striga management strategies are not of the soil microbiome to suppress Striga infection in sorghum. We associate this domain : www.cell.com versions : 2
A review of the melliferous flora of Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, on the basis for the honey production cycle D Zúñiga-Díaz, W Cetzal-Ix, H López-Castilla… - Journal of Ethnobiology …, 2024 - Springer Monday 25 March 2024 The Yucatan Peninsula (YP) is one of the most important regions in global apiculture. Hence, this work reviews and integrates the knowledge of the species diversity, domain : link.springer.com versions : 4
HOST RANGE AND HOST PREFERENCE OF CUSCUTA SPECIES (CONVOLVULACEAE) IN KARAK, KOHAT AND BANNU DISTRICTS, KHYBER … A MEHMOOD, A SULTAN, T IQBAL, N AHMAD… - Pak. J. Bot - researchgate.net Saturday 23 March 2024 Cuscuta is a genus of parasitic plants that negatively impact crops and valuable timber trees. Ecological surveys are needed to improve our understanding of the Cuscuta- domain : www.researchgate.net
ense infraspecific sampling reveals cryptic differentiation in the enigmatic hemiparasitic love vine Cassytha filiformis (Lauraceae) ZF Liu, SF Zhang, AD Twyford, XQ Ci, L Li, XY Zhang… - Journal of Systematics … - jse.ac.cn Friday 22 March 2024 Species delimitation remains a challenge worldwide, especially in highly diverse tropical and subtropical regions. Here, we use an integrative approach that combines domain : www.jse.ac.cn versions : 2
oria cocos polysaccharides improve alcoholic liver disease by interfering with ferroptosis through NRF2 regulation X Zhou, J Wang, S Zhou - Aging - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Thursday 21 March 2024 The active ingredient in Poria cocos, a parasitic plant belonging to the family Polyporaceae, is Poria cocos polysaccharide (PCP). PCP exhibits liver protection and anti- domain : pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Structural Chemistry, Biosynthesis, and Signaling of Multifaceted Plant Growth Regulator: Strigolactone S Zaidi, Y Arif, H Imtiaz, M Shiraz, S Hayat - Journal of Plant Growth …, 2024 - Springer Thursday 21 March 2024 However, the results from root exudate analysis of carotenoid biosynthetic mutants of maize in which the efficiency to induce germination in Striga is reduced, and the domain : link.springer.com
anisa ili ve çevresindeki bitkilerde belirlenen mikrobiyal kökenli galler C Azeri - acikbilim.yok.gov.tr Wednesday 20 March 2024 , asmalarda viral etmence oluturulan gvde olukluluu (stem pitting) ve ttnlerde (Nicotiana tabacum) etmeni kesin tesbit edilemeyen Yalanc oroban (False Broomrape domain : acikbilim.yok.gov.tr
Endophytic fungi from parasitic-plant Cuscuta, and their potential for producing L-asparaginase of pharmaceutical significance E Khare, A Vishwakarma, V Maurya… - Environmental …, 2024 - Springer Tuesday 19 March 2024 Of parasitic medicinal angiospermic plants are largely inadequate, and need thorough screening and evaluation to exploit the properties yet controlling the parasitic plant domain : link.springer.com
istinguishing the functions of canonical strigolactones as rhizospheric signals JY Wang, GTE Chen, J Braguy, S Al-Babili - Trends in Plant Science, 2024 - cell.com Tuesday 19 March 2024 Germination in the root-parasitic weed Striga lutea, which belongs to the Orobanchaceae Notably, the witchweed Striga hermonthica is a major biotic threat to global food domain : www.cell.com versions : 2
robanche Infestation in tobacco: Farmers' knowledge and constraints B Hema, DD Reddy, SM Madhav, A Srinivas… - 2024 - indianjournals.com Sunday 17 March 2024 Orobanche is the major production constraint affecting the income of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco farmers. The present study is an attempt to analyze the knowledge domain : www.indianjournals.com
Integrated Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis Reveals That Cell Wall Activity Affects Phelipanche aegyptiaca Parasitism M Chen, L Zhang, Z Yao, X Cao, Q Ma, S Chen… - Plants, 2024 - mdpi.com Sunday 17 March 2024 In and evolution of parasitic plants lead to varying determine the virulence of parasitic plants. For example, the genome of Striga hermonthica, a root parasitic plant within domain : www.mdpi.com
Species: B. abbreviata–B. coralliformis–B. dioica–B. elongata–B. fargesii–B. fungosa–B. hansenii–B. harlandii–B. indica–B. involucrata–B. japonica–B. latisepala–B … R Govaerts - scientificlib.com Saturday 16 March 2024 Balanophora is a genus of parasitic plants in the family Balanophoraceae found in parts of tropical and temperate Asia, including the Eastern Himalayas,[1] Malesia region domain : www.scientificlib.com
erging Flow Synthesis and Enzymatic Maturation to Expand the Chemical Space of Lasso Peptides …, J Lang, M Schuster, C Grigglestone, R Striga… - 2024 - chemrxiv.org Saturday 16 March 2024 Many peptidic natural productssuch as lasso peptides, cyclic peptides, and cyclotidesare conformationally constrained and show biological stability, making them domain : chemrxiv.org
IMPORTANCE OF SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS IN PLANTS R Rameshwari - Parasitic Associations (Virus, Bacteria, Fungi …, 2024 - books.google.com Thursday 14 March 2024 Additionally, obligate parasitic plants like dodder and broomrapes exemplify fascinating adaptations, relying entirely on their host for sustenance. The consequences of domain : books.google.com versions : 2
Genetic variability and heritability among indigenous pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum LR Br.) in striga infested fields of Sudan Savanna, Nigeria GS Balami, AU Izge - 2024 - researchgate.net Thursday 14 March 2024 Among hybrid cross with high number of striga count. Most of the hybrids that striga condition can be chosen for further breeding programmes targeting resistance to striga domain : www.researchgate.net versions : 2

Most recent 'Parasitic Plant' publications

in Scopus

  1. Screening pearl millet genotypes for resistance to Striga hermonthica and compatibility to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae Armel Rouamba, Hussein Shimelis, Inoussa Drabo, Emmanuel Mrema, Prakash Irappa Gangashetty Crop Protection, volume 178 Thursday 28 March 2024 Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br., 2n = 2x = 14) is a nutritionally rich and climate-resilient food crop cultivated globally. It is a crucial staple crop in Burkina Faso and the dry Sahel region, encompassing Niger, Mali, and Senegal. However, the yield of pearl millet is relatively low in the region (<0.85 tons ha−1) due to Striga her... Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br., 2n = 2x = 14) is a nutritionally rich and climate-resilient food crop cultivated globally. It is a crucial staple crop in Burkina Faso and the dry Sahel region, encompassing Niger, Mali, and Senegal. However, the yield of pearl millet is relatively low in the region (<0.85 tons ha−1) due to Striga hermonthica (Sh) infestation, bird damage, insect pests, diseases, and low-yielding open-pollinated landrace varieties. The study aimed to screen genetically diverse pearl millet accessions for Sh resistance and compatibility to a Striga bio-control agent, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Strigae (FOS), to select contrasting and promising parents for resistance breeding and production. One hundred and fifty genotypes were evaluated in Sh hotspot fields in the rain-fed and greenhouse conditions using an alpha lattice design and two replications in Burkina Faso. Significant differences were recorded among the tested pearl millet genotypes for the assessed agro-morphological and Striga resistance. Days to flowering was significantly delayed in the assessed genotypes due to Sh infestation. Applying FOS on pearl millet seed significantly reduced the mean Striga number in Sh-infested conditions. The following genotypes: IP-3098, IP-6112, IP-9242, IP-10579, and IP-11358 were identified as exhibiting Sh resistance and were compatible to FOS. The pearl millet genotypes supported few to none Sh emerged plants with comparatively low values under the Striga number progress curve. The selected genotypes are useful parents to breed for Striga resistance and integrated management in Burkina Faso and related agroecologies.
  2. Towards Striga-resistant Gene pool in Nigerian Pearl millet landraces Dawud Maryam, Eleblu John, Angarawai Ignatius, Tongoona Pangirayi, Ofori Kwadwo E3S Web of Conferences, volume 492 Thursday 28 March 2024 Parasitism of crop plants by Striga species is a major constraint in the savannah zones of West Africa. A germplasm collection comprised of 240 accessions of pearl millet was screened under natural Striga hermonthica infestation to identify sources of Striga resistance. Data were collected at different time points, specifically at 70, 90 and 140 da... Parasitism of crop plants by Striga species is a major constraint in the savannah zones of West Africa. A germplasm collection comprised of 240 accessions of pearl millet was screened under natural Striga hermonthica infestation to identify sources of Striga resistance. Data were collected at different time points, specifically at 70, 90 and 140 days after planting for Striga count, Striga vigour and Striga severity. Number of panicles, panicle weight and Grain yield were also measured. The results revealed significant variation in the resistance of pearl millet genotypes to Striga. Fifteen genotypes identified as the most resistant were free of emerged Striga shoots, 10 genotypes supported 1- 4 Striga shoots but with appreciable yield and 15 genotypes with 1-4 Striga shoots and low grain yield. Principal Component and cluster analyses grouped these genotypes into 3 main clusters medium yielding tolerant to Striga, low yielding susceptible to Striga and medium to high yielding resistant to Striga. The high level of resistance observed in some breeding lines enabled the selection of suitable parents for population development.
  3. Can amino acids be used to inhibit germination or deplete the soil seedbank of Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel? Stéphanie Gibot-Leclerc, Fabrice Dessaint, Manon Connault, Rémi Perronne Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, volume 131, pages 91-99 Thursday 28 March 2024 Phelipanche ramosa is a weed holoparasite which became a major agronomic problem for several crops in France. The yield and quality losses may be complete and lead to the abandonment of crops in the most infested fields. Chemical weed control using synthetic herbicides does not have a direct effect on this weed because the first half of its reprodu... Phelipanche ramosa is a weed holoparasite which became a major agronomic problem for several crops in France. The yield and quality losses may be complete and lead to the abandonment of crops in the most infested fields. Chemical weed control using synthetic herbicides does not have a direct effect on this weed because the first half of its reproductive cycle occurs on the root system of its host. The aim of this study is to contribute to the definition of an integrated weed management program of P. ramosa, especially focusing on the use of the possible direct effect of amino acids on seed of broomrapes as a potential biocontrol solution. We studied a set of 14 amino acids in in vitro conditions to investigate whether some amino acids can have an inhibitory effect on the germination of the P. ramosa seeds, whether this effect may be permanent after the removal of the amino acid, and whether some amino acids can cause a high dormancy or seed mortality rate. Our main results showed (1) a strong inhibitory effect of four amino acids on the seed germination concerning arginine, lysine, phenylalanine and tryptophan, and (2) that this effect appeared temporary for arginine and lysine, but permanent for phenylalanine and tryptophan. Our study thus highlighted the interest of phenylalanine and tryptophan as they caused both high inhibition of germination and high seed mortality of P. ramosa. Based on these results, we suggest three options for the use of these amino acids that could provide concrete answers to farmers.
  4. Abscisic acid inhibits germination of Striga seeds and is released by them likely as a rhizospheric signal supporting host infestation Muhammad Jamil, Yagiz Alagoz, Jian You Wang, Guan Ting Erica Chen, Lamis Berqdar, Najeh M. Kharbatia, Juan C. Moreno, Hendrik N.J. Kuijer, Salim Al-Babili Plant Journal, volume 117, pages 1305-1316 Wednesday 27 March 2024 Seeds of the root parasitic plant Striga hermonthica undergo a conditioning process under humid and warm environments before germinating in response to host-released stimulants, particularly strigolactones (SLs). The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates different growth and developmental processes, and stress response; however, its role duri... Seeds of the root parasitic plant Striga hermonthica undergo a conditioning process under humid and warm environments before germinating in response to host-released stimulants, particularly strigolactones (SLs). The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates different growth and developmental processes, and stress response; however, its role during Striga seed germination and early interactions with host plants is under-investigated. Here, we show that ABA inhibited Striga seed germination and that hindering its biosynthesis induced conditioning and germination in unconditioned seeds, which was significantly enhanced by treatment with the SL analog rac-GR24. However, the inhibitory effect of ABA remarkably decreased during conditioning, confirming the loss of sensitivity towards ABA in later developmental stages. ABA measurement showed a substantial reduction of its content during the early conditioning stage and a significant increase upon rac-GR24-triggered germination. We observed this increase also in released seed exudates, which was further confirmed by using the Arabidopsis ABA-reporter GUS marker line. Seed exudates of germinated seeds, containing elevated levels of ABA, impaired the germination of surrounding Striga seeds in vitro and promoted root growth of a rice host towards germinated Striga seeds. Application of ABA as a positive control caused similar effects, indicating its function in Striga/Striga and Striga/host communications. In summary, we show that ABA is an essential player during seed dormancy and germination processes in Striga and acts as a rhizospheric signal likely to support host infestation.
  5. Structure, Function, and Application of Self-Healing Adhesives from Mistletoe Viscin Stephen D. George, Elias Andraos, Tobias Priemel, Nils Horbelt, Griffin Keiser, Ambrish Kumar, Christian Heiss, Notburga Gierlinger, Parastoo Azadi, Matthew J. Harrington Advanced Functional Materials, volume 34 Wednesday 27 March 2024 Berries from the European Mistletoe (Viscum album) possess a sticky tissue called viscin that facilitates adhesion and germination onto host trees. Recent studies of viscin have demonstrated its adhesive capacity on a range of natural and synthetic surfaces including wood, skin, metals, and plastic. Yet, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly unde... Berries from the European Mistletoe (Viscum album) possess a sticky tissue called viscin that facilitates adhesion and germination onto host trees. Recent studies of viscin have demonstrated its adhesive capacity on a range of natural and synthetic surfaces including wood, skin, metals, and plastic. Yet, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, an investigation of the adhesive performance of mistletoe viscin is performed, demonstrating its hygroscopic nature and ability to self-heal following adhesive failure. It is identified that adhesion originates from a water-soluble adhesive component that can be extracted, isolated, and characterized independently. Lap shear mechanical testing indicates that the mistletoe adhesive extract (MAE) outperforms native viscin tissue, as well as gum arabic and arabinogalactan—common plant-based adhesives. Furthermore, humidity uptake experiments reveal that MAE can reversibly absorb nearly 100% of its mass in water from the atmosphere. In-depth spectroscopic and mass spectrometry investigations reveal a composition consisting primarily of an atypical arabinogalactan, with additional sugar alcohols. Finally, several proof-of-concept applications are demonstrated using MAE for hygro-responsive reversible adhesion between various surfaces including skin, plastic, PDMS, and paper, revealing that MAE holds potential as a biorenewable and reusable adhesive for applications in cosmetics, packaging, and potentially, tissue engineering.
  6. Mechanism of Cuscutae Semen to Control Premature Ovarian Failure Based on Lipid and Atherosclerosis Pathways Ying Xie, Min Xiao, Xiaocui Jiang, Jinrong Zhang, Ruoyi Shi, Jiawei Zhang, Min Zhao Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae, volume 30, pages 109-118 Tuesday 26 March 2024 Objective: The active ingredients,action targets,and signaling pathways of Cuscutae Semen to control premature ovarian failure were initially predicted by network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques,and an animal model of premature ovarian failure was constructed to explore the mechanism of Cuscutae Semen based on lipid and athero... Objective: The active ingredients,action targets,and signaling pathways of Cuscutae Semen to control premature ovarian failure were initially predicted by network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques,and an animal model of premature ovarian failure was constructed to explore the mechanism of Cuscutae Semen based on lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathways. Method: The effective components and corresponding targets of drugs were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicines Systems Pharmacology Platform(TCMSP),Swiss Target Prediction,Pharmmapper,and other databases. GeneCards database was used to collect disease-related targets. Venny2.1.0 online tool was used to screen out the intersection targets of drugs and diseases,and STRING database and Cytoscape v3.7.2 software were used to construct the network diagram of "drug-component-target" and protein-protein interaction(PPI). The gene ontology(GO)and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses of the intersection targets were performed by running the R language script. The molecular docking technology was utilized to dock drug components with targets and visualize some of the docking results. The mice were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a Cuscutae Semen group,and an estradiol valerate group,and the ovarian premature failure model was prepared by chronic stress. The blank group and the model group were gavaged with the same amount of normal saline,and the Cuscutae Semen group was given a Cuscutae Semen decoction of 2.6 g·kg-1·d-1. The estradiol valerate group was given an estradiol valerate solution of 0.13 mg·kg-1·d-1. After four weeks,samples were collected,and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was performed to observe the histopathological changes in the ovary. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),estradiol(E2),Muller's tube inhibitor/anti-Muller's tube hormone(AMH),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression levels of extracellular regulatory protein kinase(ERK),nuclear transcription factor- κB p65(NF- κB p65),nuclear transcription factor- κB suppressor α(IκBα),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were measured by Western blot. Result:A total of 171 targets of Cuscutae Semen for the prevention and treatment of premature ovarian failure were screened,mainly including tumor protein p53(TP53),protein kinase B1(Akt1),sarcoma(SRC),tumor necrosis factor(TNF),epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),etc. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis predicts that Cuscutae Semen is mainly involved in lipid and atherosclerosis,TNF signaling pathway,and TP53 signaling pathway to control premature ovarian failure. The animal experiments show that compared with the premature ovarian failure model group,the Cuscutae Semen group can significantly upregulate AMH,E2,and HDL-C(P<0.05,P< 0.01),significantly downregulate LH,TC,and LDL-C(P<0.01),greatly reduce IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF- α protein levels,as well as ERK,NF-κB p65,and their phosphorylation levels(P<0.01). Conclusion:Cuscutae Semen can regulate hormone levels and improve ovarian function through a multi-component,multi-target,and multi-pathway approach,and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of lipid and atherosclerosis signaling pathways.
  7. Development and characterization of a new sunflower source of resistance to race G of Orobanche cumana Wallr. derived from Helianthus anomalus Belén Fernández-Melero, Lidia del Moral, Marco Todesco, Loren H. Rieseberg, Gregory L. Owens, Sébastien Carrère, Mireille Chabaud, Stéphane Muños, Leonardo Velasco, Begoña Pérez-Vich Theoretical and Applied Genetics, volume 137 Tuesday 26 March 2024 Key message: A new OrAnom1 gene introgressed in cultivated sunflower from wild Helianthus anomalusconfers late post-attachment resistance toOrobanche cumana race G and maps to a target interval in Chromosome 4 where two receptor-like kinases (RLKs) have been identified in theH. anomalusgenome as putative candidates. Abstract: Sunflower broomrape is... Key message: A new OrAnom1 gene introgressed in cultivated sunflower from wild Helianthus anomalusconfers late post-attachment resistance toOrobanche cumana race G and maps to a target interval in Chromosome 4 where two receptor-like kinases (RLKs) have been identified in theH. anomalusgenome as putative candidates. Abstract: Sunflower broomrape is a parasitic weed that infects sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) roots causing severe yield losses. Breeding for resistance is the most effective and sustainable control method. In this study, we report the identification, introgression, and genetic and physiological characterization of a new sunflower source of resistance to race G of broomrape developed from the wild annual sunflower H. anomalus (accession PI 468642). Crosses between PI 468642 and the susceptible line P21 were carried out, and the genetic study was conducted in BC1F1, BC1F2, and its derived BC1F3 populations. A BC1F5 germplasm named ANOM1 was developed through selection for race G resistance and resemblance to cultivated sunflower. The resistant trait showed monogenic and dominant inheritance. The gene, named OrAnom1, was mapped to Chromosome 4 within a 1.2 cM interval and co-segregated with 7 SNP markers. This interval corresponds to a 1.32 Mb region in the sunflower reference genome, housing a cluster of receptor-like kinase and receptor-like protein (RLK-RLP) genes. Notably, the analysis of the H. anomalus genome revealed the absence of RLPs in the OrAnom1 target region but featured two RLKs as possible OrAnom1 candidates. Rhizotron and histological studies showed that OrAnom1 determines a late post-attachment resistance mechanism. Broomrape can establish a vascular connection with the host, but parasite growth is stopped before tubercle development, showing phenolic compounds accumulation and tubercle necrosis. ANOM1 will contribute to broadening the genetic basis of broomrape resistance in the cultivated sunflower pool and to a better understanding of the molecular basis of the sunflower-broomrape interaction.
  8. Parasitic plants are one step ahead: Cuscuta responds transcriptionally to different hosts Manuel González-Fuente Plant Physiology, volume 194, pages 609-611 Monday 25 March 2024 dc:description
  9. Cycloheximide in the nanomolar range inhibits seed germination of Orobanche minor Ryosuke Nogami, Mari Nagata, Risa Imada, Kenji Kai, Takashi Kawaguchi, Shuji Tani Journal of Pesticide Science, volume 49, pages 1-9 Monday 25 March 2024 From the 992 samples of culture extracts of microorganisms isolated from soil in Japan, we found that the extract of Streptomyces sp. no. 226 inhibited Orobanche minor seed germination without significantly affecting the seed germination of Trifolium pratense and the growth of Aspergillus oryzae and Escherichia coli. Using ESI-MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-N... From the 992 samples of culture extracts of microorganisms isolated from soil in Japan, we found that the extract of Streptomyces sp. no. 226 inhibited Orobanche minor seed germination without significantly affecting the seed germination of Trifolium pratense and the growth of Aspergillus oryzae and Escherichia coli. Using ESI-MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR, we identified the active compound as cycloheximide. Cycloheximide had half-maximum inhibitory concentrations of 2.6 ng/mL for the inhibition of seed germination of O. minor and 2.5 µg/mL for that of the conidial germination of A. oryzae. Since cycloheximide is known to inhibit translation by interacting with ribosomal protein L28 (RPL28) in yeast, we investigated whether RPL protein of O. minor plays a critical role in the inhibition of O. minor seed germination. Our data suggested that O. minor RPL27A was not sensitive to cycloheximide by comparing it to the strain expressing S. cerevisiae RPL28. These findings suggest the presence of an unidentified mechanism by which cycloheximide hinders O. minor seed germination. (Figure presented)
  10. Screening tropical and sub-tropical maize germplasm for resistance to Striga hermonthica and S. asiatica and yield-related traits Emeline N. Dossa, Hussein Shimelis, Admire I.T. Shayanowako, Mark D. Laing Euphytica, volume 220 Sunday 24 March 2024 Identification of maize germplasm with dual resistance to Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa), could lead to the development of cultivars with stable resistance. 130 tropical and sub-tropical maize germplasms, including checks, were evaluated in a controlled environment for their reaction to Sh and Sa infestations using a 13 × 10 alpha la... Identification of maize germplasm with dual resistance to Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa), could lead to the development of cultivars with stable resistance. 130 tropical and sub-tropical maize germplasms, including checks, were evaluated in a controlled environment for their reaction to Sh and Sa infestations using a 13 × 10 alpha lattice design with two replications over two seasons. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were detected among the assessed genotypes for all the recorded traits in Sh and Sa-infested treatments. Under Sa-infested conditions, mean Striga emergence counts 8 weeks after planting (SEC8) and 10 weeks after planting (SEC10) were 5.00 and 45.50, respectively, while the mean Striga damage rate 8 weeks after planting (SDR8) and 10 weeks after planting (SDR10) were 3.35 and 3.07, respectively. Under Sh-infested conditions, SEC8 and SEC10 mean values were 3.66 and 3.77, respectively, while the SDR8 and SDR10 values were 5.25 and 2.75 respectively. Positive and significant (P < 0.05) correlations were found between anthesis-silking interval (ASI) and SDR8 (r = 0.18) and SDR10 (0.32) under Sa-infested conditions. Negative and significant correlations were recorded between ear per plant (EPP) and SEC8, SDR8, and SDR10, with r = − 0.18, r = − 0.27, and r = − 0.24, respectively. Under Sh-infested conditions, significant and negative correlations were recorded between SDR8 and EPP (r = − 0. 20), EHT and SEC8 (r = − 0.22), EHT and SDR8 (r = − 0.36), PLHT and SDR8 (− 0.48), and PLHT and SDR10 (− 0.22). The results suggest that dual resistance to the two Striga species exists in some tropical and sub-tropical maize lines. The following genotypes have dual resistance to Sa and Sh: CML440, CML566, CML540, CML539, CLHP0343, CLHP0326, TZISTR1248, TZSTRI115, TZISTR25, TZISTR1205, TZSTRI113, TZISTR1119, TZISTR1174 and the OPVs B.King/1421, Shesha/1421, ZM1421, DTSTR-W SYN13, DTSTR-Y SYN14, and 2*TZECOMP3DT/WhiteDTSTRSYN) C2. The identified genotypes are suitable for use as parents in developing high-performing maize varieties with Striga resistance and improved grain yield.
  11. Rising from the shadows: Selective foraging in model shoot parasitic plants Thomas Bawin, Kirsten Krause Plant Cell and Environment, volume 47, pages 1118-1127 Thursday 21 March 2024 Despite being sessile, plants nonetheless forage for resources by modulating their growth. Adaptative foraging in response to changes in resource availability and presence of neighbours has strong implications for performance and fitness. It is an even more pressing issue for parasitic plants, which draw resources directly from other plants. Indeed... Despite being sessile, plants nonetheless forage for resources by modulating their growth. Adaptative foraging in response to changes in resource availability and presence of neighbours has strong implications for performance and fitness. It is an even more pressing issue for parasitic plants, which draw resources directly from other plants. Indeed, parasitic plants were demonstrated over the years to direct their growth towards preferred hosts and invest resources in parasitism relative to host quality. In contrast to root parasites that rely mostly on chemical cues, some shoot parasites seem to profit from the ability to integrate different types of abiotic and biotic cues. While significant progress in this field has been made recently, there are still many open questions regarding the molecular perception and the integration of diverse signalling pathways under different ecological contexts. Addressing how different cues are integrated in parasitic plants will be important when unravelling variations in plant interaction pathways, and essential to predict the spread of parasites in natural and agricultural environments. In this review, we discuss this with a focus on Cuscuta species as an emerging parasitic model, and provide research perspectives based on the recent advances in the topic and plant–plant interactions in general.
  12. It's not witchcraft: The role of abscisic acid in Striga germination and conditioning Gwendolyn K. Kirschner Plant Journal, volume 117, pages 1303-1304 Wednesday 20 March 2024 dc:description
  13. CURRENT STATUS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN MISTLETOE (VISCUM ALBUM L.) IN ZHYTOMYR POLISSIA Olena Zhytova, Lyudmyla Kotyuk, Olena Andreieva Biologicni Studii, volume 18, pages 111-124 Tuesday 19 March 2024 Background. European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) is a hemiparasitic, autotrophic plant, which is an integral part of natural and urbanized ecosystems of Ukraine, in particular Zhytomyr Polissia. V. album is considered to be an aboriginal species which is largely responsible for the deterioration of the sanitary condition of woody plants. In particu... Background. European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) is a hemiparasitic, autotrophic plant, which is an integral part of natural and urbanized ecosystems of Ukraine, in particular Zhytomyr Polissia. V. album is considered to be an aboriginal species which is largely responsible for the deterioration of the sanitary condition of woody plants. In particular, it causes their premature drying, a sharp decrease in the intensity of growth and yield of fruit. This study pursues the following goals: 1) to identify the species of trees affected by V. album and which ones it prefers in the conditions of Zhytomyr Polissia; 2) to study the biology of the development of V. album in the conditions of the region; 3) analysis of the degree of damage to trees by V. album using the coefficient of complex assessment. Materials and Methods. The reconnaissance method was used to determine the distribution of V. album, the type of damage and the intensity of damage to tree plantations and the degree of tree damage by mistletoe was determined using the coefficient of comprehensive damage assessment (Ccda ). Results and Discussion. It was found that out of the total number of affected trees, B. pendula (27.13 %), R. pseudoacacia (17.04 %) and P. tremula (11.13 %) were the most commonly infested by V. album in the region. At the same time, 46 % of the trees are slightly damaged, 31 % are moderately damaged and 23 % are insignificantly damaged. It was found that without human intervention, the number of populations and the number of V. album tend to increase. Conclusions. On the territory of Zhytomyr Polissia, V. album has entered the cate gory of invasive plants. V. album was detected on 20 tree species, of which the number of trees affected by V. album reached 41.54 % of the total number of the examined trees. The vast majority of V. album populations (61 %) are growing. The largest numbers of V. album shrubs were recorded on trees aged 60–80 and 80–100 years, accounting for 23 % and 25.13 % of the total number of trees infested by V. album, respectively.
  14. Comparative study of three local mistletoes: insights from photosynthetic, ionomic, and metabolomic attributes Zouhaier Barhoumi Chemoecology Tuesday 19 March 2024 Mistletoes are adapted to parasitize aerial parts of their hosts, and they have a great morphological variation and wide global distribution. Their effects on hosts were more or less investigated; however, no comparative interspecific study had been reported. This study aimed to compare three locale mistletoes Phragmanthera austroarabica, Viscum sc... Mistletoes are adapted to parasitize aerial parts of their hosts, and they have a great morphological variation and wide global distribution. Their effects on hosts were more or less investigated; however, no comparative interspecific study had been reported. This study aimed to compare three locale mistletoes Phragmanthera austroarabica, Viscum schimperi, and Plicosepalus acacia based on photosynthetic activity, major-trace- and ultra-trace elements’ distribution and metabolome profiling. P. acacia exhibited the highest net photosynthetic assimilation rate (3.3-folds), water use efficiency (5.5-folds), and accumulated major elements (44Ca, 24Mg, and 23Na). Equally, the untargeted metabolomic method showed a substantial difference in metabolome profiling, with P. acacia being the lesser accumulative of major metabolites than P. austroarabica and V. schimperi. Based on the few identified common metabolite analysis, P. acacia had the ability to avoid the accumulation of the pollutant mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate which, P. austroarabica and V. schimperi, cannot do. Equally, P. acacia had more defence metabolites against stressors than the other mistletoes. Accordingly, P. acacia displayed higher potentialities to be more vigor and more adapted to the parasitism’s life than P. austroarabica and V. schimperi.
  15. Management of the Striga epidemics in pearl millet production: a review Armel Rouamba, Hussein Shimelis, Inoussa Drabo, Kwame Wilson Shamuyarira, Emmanuel Mrema CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, volume 5 Sunday 17 March 2024 Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) is a drought-resilient and nutritious staple food crop widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions. Worldwide, pearl millet is ranked the 6th most widely produced cereal crop after wheat, rice, maize, barley, and sorghum, with a total production of 30.5 million tons on 32.1 million hectares. In Burk... Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) is a drought-resilient and nutritious staple food crop widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions. Worldwide, pearl millet is ranked the 6th most widely produced cereal crop after wheat, rice, maize, barley, and sorghum, with a total production of 30.5 million tons on 32.1 million hectares. In Burkina Faso, it is the 3rd widely cultivated crop next to sorghum and maize, with a mean yield of 0.8 ton ha−1, far below the potential yield of 3.0 tons ha−1 attributable to various production challenges. Among the production constraints, the parasitic weed Striga species, particularly S. hermonthica is endemic and causes up to 80% yield losses under heavy infestation. Different control methods (e.g., cultural practices, chemicals and bio-herbicides) have been recommended, but they have been largely ineffective due to diverse and complex problems, including the life cycle, seed production, and prolonged seed dormancy of S. hermonthica; poor access and cost of implementation. Breeding for host plant resistance presents a cost-effective, environmentally friendly and affordable method for smallholder farmers to control and reduce Striga infestations and improve pearl millet yields. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to present the impact of S. hermonthica damage on pearl millet production and productivity and assess the effectiveness of different management methods of S. hermonthica with an emphasis on host plant resistance. The first section of the review assesses the impact of Striga infestation on pearl millet production, followed by the developmental stages of Striga, Striga infestation and damage management strategies, breeding for Striga resistance and other Striga control methods. The paper summarises genetic resources, new breeding technologies, and innovations for the precision and speed breeding of Striga-resistant cultivars. The review will guide the use of the best breeding strategies and accelerate the breeding of new pearl millet cultivars that are best-performing and resistant to S. hermonthica to reduce damage incurred by Striga infestations on farmers’ fields in Burkina Faso and related agro-ecologies.

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