Plant Parasitism and Resistance

Structural and functional characterisation of a reconstructed ancestral strigolactone receptor

This paper reconstructs an ancestral D14 strigolactone receptor and shows it has conserved substrate specificity but improved stability and activity compared to Arabidopsis D14.

Strigolactone effects on Sorghum bicolor ecophysiology and symbioses

This study examines the effects of strigolactone mutants in Sorghum bicolor on ecophysiology and symbioses, revealing trade-offs in parasitic plant resistance and mycorrhizal interactions.

Disentangling the importance of microbiological and physicochemical properties of Ethiopian field soils for the Striga seed bank and sorghum infestations

This study identifies soil microbiological and physicochemical factors influencing Striga seed bank and sorghum infestation in Ethiopian soils.

The parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris selectively loads trans-species miRNAs onto host Argonautes, but not self Argonautes

This study investigates how Cuscuta campestris miRNAs are processed, transported, and loaded into host Argonautes, finding they avoid self AGO-loading to facilitate host targeting.

In vitro evaluation of protein-protein interactions in the rice KAI2 ligand signaling complex

This study evaluates protein-protein interactions in the rice KAI2 ligand signaling complex using an in vitro approach with a novel KL analog.

When parasites bite hardest: mistletoe effects on oak radial growth peak near climatic optima

This study examines how yellow mistletoe affects oak radial growth, finding that growth amplitude is reduced, especially under optimal climatic conditions.

A reference genome and transcriptome of haustorial development in Pedicularis groenlandica reveal diverse trajectories of haustoria-associated gene evolution in parasitic plants

This study identifies haustoria-associated genes in Pedicularis groenlandica and shows they are more often linked to pollen tubes than roots, with neofunctionalization playing a role in their evolution.

Wild genes to the rescue: High-throughput genomics uncovers the wild source of broomrape resistance in sunflower

This study uses high-throughput genomics to identify wild sunflower relatives as sources of broomrape resistance genes.

In Vitro Dynamic and Quantitative Monitoring of Strigolactone-signaling Complex Formation by Time-resolved FRET

This paper develops a TR-FRET-based assay to monitor SL signaling complex formation and reveals kinetic differences among SL analogs and the effect of tolfenamic acid.

Mechanism of cooperative strigolactone perception by the MAX2 ubiquitin ligase-receptor-substrate complex

This study identifies an E3-HTL-substrate complex that reveals how strigolactone perception by the receptor HTL7 is linked to substrate recognition by the E3 ubiquitin ligase MAX2.

Glucosylation of Endogenous Haustorium-inducing factors Underpins Kin Avoidance in Parasitic Plants

The paper identifies a mutation in a glucosyltransferase gene that prevents self-attack in parasitic plants by inactivating endogenous haustorium-inducing factors.

Systemic organellar genome reconfiguration along the parasitic continuum in the Broomrape family (Orobanchaceae)

This study examines mitochondrial and plastid genome evolution in parasitic plants, revealing an inverse relationship between genome compaction and inflation across the parasitic continuum.

DWARF14 and KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 mediate signaling of the apocarotenoid zaxinone in Arabidopsis

This study identifies zaxinone as a ligand for DWARF14 and KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 in Arabidopsis, revealing its role in phytohormone regulation and signaling.

Convergent strigolactone perception via independent horizontal gene transfer of pre-adapted α/β-hydrolases

The paper shows that two unrelated ABH proteins from different bacterial sources independently evolved to perceive strigolactones through horizontal gene transfer.

Discovery and development of single-nucleotide polymorphism markers for resistance to Striga gesnerioides in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

The paper identifies and validates SNP markers for Striga resistance in cowpea using genomic and phenotypic data from Nigerian cowpea genotypes.

Neofunctionalized RGF pathways drive haustorial organogenesis in parasitic plants

This study identifies RGF peptides and their receptors as key regulators of haustorium formation in parasitic plants, revealing evolutionary mechanisms behind their neofunctionalization.

FveDAD2 negatively regulates branch crowns by affecting abscisic acid metabolism through FveHB7 in woodland strawberry

FveDAD2 negatively regulates branch crowns by affecting abscisic acid levels through interaction with FveSMXL7 to regulate FveABA8OH1 expression via FveHB7.

Parasitic-plant parasite utilizes flowering pathways at unconventional stages to form stem-derived galls

This study examines stem-derived galls induced by a weevil on a parasitic plant, revealing unconventional activation of flowering pathways and increased photosynthesis-related gene expression.

CONTROL OF OROBANCHE CUMANA WALLR: RESEARCH ON SUSTAINABILITY OF SUNFLOWER HYBRIDS AND STRATEGIES FOR PARASITE PROTECTION

The paper evaluates sunflower hybrid resistance to broomrape parasites and identifies the need for new resistant hybrids due to the emergence of aggressive parasite races.

Altered mitochondrial respiration is associated with loss of nuclear-encoded OXPHOS genes in parasitic broomrapes

The paper investigates gene loss in nuclear-encoded mitochondrial OXPHOS genes in parasitic plants and finds that despite genetic alterations, OXPHOS function is preserved through reliance on complex II.

An N-terminal domain specifies developmental control by the SMAX1-LIKE family of transcriptional co-repressors in Arabidopsis thaliana

The paper identifies an N-terminal domain in SMXL proteins that specifies developmental functions, revealing how SMAX1 and SMXL7 differ in activity despite similar expression patterns.

Effect of environmental conditions on seed germination and seedling growth in Cuscuta campestris

This study examines how environmental factors affect seed germination and seedling growth in Cuscuta campestris, revealing unique responses to light and hormones.

A long-distance inhibitory system regulates haustoria numbers in parasitic plants

This study identifies a long-distance inhibitory system in parasitic plants that regulates haustoria numbers via cytokinin signaling.

Non-specific effect of double-stranded RNAs on Egyptian broomrape (Phelipanche aegyptiaca) seed germination

This study investigates the effect of dsRNAs on seed germination of P. aegyptiaca, finding non-specific inhibition that may be due to nitrogenous moieties rather than specific gene targeting.

Barley is a potential trap crop for root parasitic weeds broomrapes

This study evaluates barley cultivars as trap crops for broomrapes, finding that European cultivars produce more strigolactones and have higher mycorrhizal colonization rates than a Japanese cultivar.

Radicle growth regulation of root parasitic plants by auxin-related compounds

This study investigates auxin's role in radicle growth of root parasitic plants and shows that auxin manipulation can inhibit their growth.

Strigolactone mediates moso bamboo root response to phosphate stress

This study investigates how strigolactone regulates moso bamboo root responses to phosphate stress by analyzing gene expression and hormone effects under different Pi conditions.

Mitochondrial genomes of two parasitic Cuscuta species lack clear evidence of horizontal gene transfer and retain unusually fragmented ccmFC genes

The paper analyzes mitochondrial genomes of two Cuscuta species, finding no clear evidence of horizontal gene transfer and identifying unusual gene structures.

Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence as physiological parameters for monitoring Orobanche foetida Poir. infestation on faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

The paper evaluates faba bean lines for resistance to broomrape and finds chlorophyll content and fluorescence are useful for detecting parasitism.

Rational design of novel fluorescent enzyme biosensors for direct detection of strigolactones

The paper develops genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors for detecting strigolactones using plant receptors, showing specific fluorescence changes in response to strigolactones and their analogs.