parasitic weeds
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Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2249
Author(s):  
Chris Parker

This invited paper summarises a career in which I became increasingly involved in research and related activities on Striga and other parasitic weeds. It also presents a personal view of the present status of parasitic weed problems and their control.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuchao Chen ◽  
Yi Kuang ◽  
Liyang Shi ◽  
Xing Wang ◽  
Haoyu Fu ◽  
...  

Orobanche and Striga are parasitic weeds extremely well adapted to the life cycle of their host plants. They cannot be eliminated by conventional weed control methods. Suicidal germination induced by strigolactones (SLs) analogs is an option to control these weeds. Here, we reported two new halogenated (+)-GR24 analogs, named 7-bromo-GR24 (7BrGR24) and 7-fluoro-GR24 (7FGR24), which were synthesized using commercially available materials following simple steps. Both compounds strongly promoted seed germination of Orobanche cumana. Their EC50 values of 2.3±0.28×10−8M (7BrGR24) and 0.97±0.29×10−8M (7FGR24) were 3- and 5-fold lower, respectively, than those of (+)-GR24 and rac-GR24 (EC50=5.1±1.32–5.3±1.44×10−8; p<0.05). The 7FGR24 was the strongest seed germination promoter tested, with a stimulation percentage of 62.0±9.1% at 1.0×10−8M and 90.9±3.8% at 1.0×10−6M. It showed higher binding affinity (IC50=0.189±0.012μM) for the SL receptor ShHTL7 than (+)-GR24 (IC50=0.248±0.032μM), rac-GR24 (IC50=0.319±0.032μM), and 7BrGR24 (IC50=0.521±0.087μM). Molecular docking experiments indicated that the binding affinity of both halogenated analogs to the strigolactone receptor OsD14 was similar to that of (+)-GR24. Our results indicate that 7FGR24 is a promising agent for the control of parasitic weeds.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Okazawa ◽  
Atsusya Baba ◽  
Hikaru Okano ◽  
Tomoya Tokunaga ◽  
Tsubasa Nakaue ◽  
...  

Root parasitic weeds of the Orobanchaceae, such as witchweeds (Striga spp.) and broomrapes (Orobanche and Phelipanche spp.), cause serious losses in agriculture worldwide. No practical method to control these parasitic weeds has been developed to date. Understanding the characteristic physiological processes in the life cycles of root parasitic weeds is particularly important to identify specific targets for growth modulators. In our previous study, planteose metabolism was revealed to be activated soon after the perception of strigolactones in germinating seeds of O. minor. Nojirimycin inhibited planteose metabolism and impeded seed germination of O. minor, indicating that planteose metabolism is a possible target for root parasitic weed control. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of planteose in dry seeds of O. minor by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization—mass spectrometry imaging. Planteose was detected in tissues surrounding—but not within—the embryo, supporting its suggested role as a storage carbohydrate. Biochemical assays and molecular characterization of an α-galactosidase family member, OmAGAL2, indicated the enzyme is involved in planteose hydrolysis in the apoplast around the embryo after the perception of strigolactones to provide the embryo with essential hexoses for germination. These results indicated that OmAGAL2 is a potential molecular target for root parasitic weed control.


Planta ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 253 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Radi Aly ◽  
Maor Matzrafi ◽  
Vinay Kumar Bari

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Parker

Abstract S. asiatica is a hemiparasitic plant, native to Africa and Asia. In common with most other parasitic weeds, it is not especially invasive in natural vegetation, but is much feared in crop land where infestations can build up to ruinous levels, especially with repeated growing of susceptible cereal crops. For this reason it is included in almost all lists of noxious, prohibited plant species. It has recently been reported in Queensland, Australia. There is also evidence for its continuing spread and intensification within a number of countries in Africa in particular in rice in Tanzania and maize in Malawi. A study by Mohamed et al. (2006) suggests that on the basis of climatic data, there are many territories into which Striga species, including S. asiatica, could be introduced and thrive. Global warming could further increase this potential.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinay Kumar Bari ◽  
Jackline Abu Nassar ◽  
Radi Aly

AbstractRoot parasitic weeds infect numerous economically important crops, affecting total yield quantity and quality. A lack of an efficient control method limits our ability to manage newly developing and more virulent races of root parasitic weeds. To control the parasite induced damage in most host crops, an innovative biotechnological approach is urgently required. Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones derived from carotenoids via a pathway involving the Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase (CCD) 7, CCD8 and More Axillary Growth 1 (MAX1) genes. SLs act as branching inhibitory hormones and strictly required for the germination of root parasitic weeds. Here, we demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targted editing of SL biosynthetic gene MAX1, in tomato confers resistance against root parasitic weed Phelipanche aegyptiaca. We designed sgRNA to target the third exon of MAX1 in tomato plants using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The T0 plants were edited very efficiently at the MAX1 target site without any non-specific off-target effects. Genotype analysis of T1 plants revealed that the introduced mutations were stably passed on to the next generation. Notably, MAX1-Cas9 heterozygous and homozygous T1 plants had similar morphological changes that include excessive growth of axillary bud, reduced plant height and adventitious root formation relative to wild type. Our results demonstrated that, MAX1-Cas9 mutant lines exhibit resistance against root parasitic weed P. aegyptiaca due to reduced SL (orobanchol) level. Moreover, the expression of carotenoid biosynthetic pathway gene PDS1 and total carotenoid level was altered, as compared to wild type plants. Taking into consideration, the impact of root parasitic weeds on the agricultural economy and the obstacle to prevent and eradicate them, the current study provides new aspects into the development of an efficient control method that could be used to avoid germination of root parasitic weeds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 9013
Author(s):  
Luyang Hu ◽  
Jiansu Wang ◽  
Chong Yang ◽  
Faisal Islam ◽  
Harro Bouwmeester ◽  
...  

Parasitic plants have a unique heterotrophic lifestyle based on the extraction of water and nutrients from host plants. Some parasitic plant species, particularly those of the family Orobanchaceae, attack crops and cause substantial yield losses. The breeding of resistant crop varieties is an inexpensive way to control parasitic weeds, but often does not provide a long-lasting solution because the parasites rapidly evolve to overcome resistance. Understanding mechanisms underlying naturally occurring parasitic plant resistance is of great interest and could help to develop methods to control parasitic plants. In this review, we describe the virulence mechanisms of parasitic plants and resistance mechanisms in their hosts, focusing on obligate root parasites of the genera Orobanche and Striga. We noticed that the resistance (R) genes in the host genome often encode proteins with nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat domains (NLR proteins), hence we proposed a mechanism by which host plants use NLR proteins to activate downstream resistance gene expression. We speculated how parasitic plants and their hosts co-evolved and discussed what drives the evolution of virulence effectors in parasitic plants by considering concepts from similar studies of plant–microbe interaction. Most previous studies have focused on the host rather than the parasite, so we also provided an updated summary of genomic resources for parasitic plants and parasitic genes for further research to test our hypotheses. Finally, we discussed new approaches such as CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing and RNAi silencing that can provide deeper insight into the intriguing life cycle of parasitic plants and could potentially contribute to the development of novel strategies for controlling parasitic weeds, thereby enhancing crop productivity and food security globally.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1184
Author(s):  
Mónica Fernández-Aparicio ◽  
Philippe Delavault ◽  
Michael P. Timko

Parasitic plants rely on neighboring host plants to complete their life cycle, forming vascular connections through which they withdraw needed nutritive resources. In natural ecosystems, parasitic plants form one component of the plant community and parasitism contributes to overall community balance. In contrast, when parasitic plants become established in low biodiversified agroecosystems, their persistence causes tremendous yield losses rendering agricultural lands uncultivable. The control of parasitic weeds is challenging because there are few sources of crop resistance and it is difficult to apply controlling methods selective enough to kill the weeds without damaging the crop to which they are physically and biochemically attached. The management of parasitic weeds is also hindered by their high fecundity, dispersal efficiency, persistent seedbank, and rapid responses to changes in agricultural practices, which allow them to adapt to new hosts and manifest increased aggressiveness against new resistant cultivars. New understanding of the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind the processes of germination and haustorium development, and behind the crop resistant response, in addition to the discovery of new targets for herbicides and bioherbicides will guide researchers on the design of modern agricultural strategies for more effective, durable, and health compatible parasitic weed control.


2020 ◽  
Vol 254 ◽  
pp. 107845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis E. Tippe ◽  
Lammert Bastiaans ◽  
Aad van Ast ◽  
Ibnou Dieng ◽  
Mamadou Cissoko ◽  
...  
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