Topic
Cuscuta campestris
About: Cuscuta campestris is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 195 publications have been published within this topic receiving 2277 citations.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
TL;DR: Data show that Cuscuta campestris haustoria accumulate high levels of many novel microRNAs (miRNAs) while parasitizing Arabidopsis thaliana, and suggest that they may act as virulence factors during parasitism.
Abstract: Dodders (Cuscuta spp.) are obligate parasitic plants that obtain water and nutrients from the stems of host plants via specialized feeding structures called haustoria. Dodder haustoria facilitate bidirectional movement of viruses, proteins and mRNAs between host and parasite, but the functional effects of these movements are not known. Here we show that Cuscuta campestris haustoria accumulate high levels of many novel microRNAs (miRNAs) while parasitizing Arabidopsis thaliana. Many of these miRNAs are 22 nucleotides in length. Plant miRNAs of this length are uncommon, and are associated with amplification of target silencing through secondary short interfering RNA (siRNA) production. Several A. thaliana mRNAs are targeted by 22-nucleotide C. campestris miRNAs during parasitism, resulting in mRNA cleavage, secondary siRNA production, and decreased mRNA accumulation. Hosts with mutations in two of the loci that encode target mRNAs supported significantly higher growth of C. campestris. The same miRNAs that are expressed and active when C. campestris parasitizes A. thaliana are also expressed and active when it infects Nicotiana benthamiana. Homologues of target mRNAs from many other plant species also contain the predicted target sites for the induced C. campestris miRNAs. These data show that C. campestris miRNAs act as trans-species regulators of host-gene expression, and suggest that they may act as virulence factors during parasitism.
332 citations
TL;DR: The authors describe the genome sequence of a parasitic plant, Cuscuta campestris, and find that gene losses and host gene acquisitions reflect the independence from photosynthesis and the ability to retain and express chunks of foreign genomic DNA.
Abstract: A parasitic lifestyle, where plants procure some or all of their nutrients from other living plants, has evolved independently in many dicotyledonous plant families and is a major threat for agriculture globally. Nevertheless, no genome sequence of a parasitic plant has been reported to date. Here we describe the genome sequence of the parasitic field dodder, Cuscuta campestris. The genome contains signatures of a fairly recent whole-genome duplication and lacks genes for pathways superfluous to a parasitic lifestyle. Specifically, genes needed for high photosynthetic activity are lost, explaining the low photosynthesis rates displayed by the parasite. Moreover, several genes involved in nutrient uptake processes from the soil are lost. On the other hand, evidence for horizontal gene transfer by way of genomic DNA integration from the parasite’s hosts is found. We conclude that the parasitic lifestyle has left characteristic footprints in the C. campestris genome.
169 citations
TL;DR: The principal means of dispersal of Cuscuta weeds world-wide (including Canada) has been described, which indicates that invasion occurs via extremely elaborate mechanisms designed to match the biological processes of their host and bypass defense mechanisms.
Abstract: Cuscuta spp. (dodders) are rootless, holoparasitic herbs with filiform stems attached to the host by numerous haustoria. In Canada, Cuscuta gronovii is the most common native species of the genus followed by Cuscuta campestris and C. umbrosa. Cuscuta epithymum and C. epilinum, both introduced species in Canada, occur occasionally. Infestation by Cuscuta spp. can result in serious yield losses and dodders are listed as noxious weeds in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, and as restricted weeds in Alberta. These plants have evolved special adaptations to ensure their success: germination occurs late in the season when potential hosts are already established; seedlings selectively forage in plant communities and they may survive relatively long periods during the autotrophic stage. Invasion occurs via extremely elaborate mechanisms designed to match the biological processes of their host and bypass defense mechanisms. The principal means of dispersal of Cuscuta weeds world-wide (including Canada) has been...
100 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: An attempt has been made to review the research work done on biology and management of Cuscuta in India and elsewhere.
Abstract: Field dodder (Cuscuta campestris) is an annual obligate stem parasite belonging to family Cuscutaceae. The genus Cuscuta is comprised of about 175 species worldwide. Out of 12 species reported from India, C. campestris and C. reflexa are more common. It is a major problem in pulses, oilseeds and fodder crops in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Orissa, West Bengal and parts of Madhya Pradesh under rainfed as well as in irrigated conditions. It reproduces mainly by seeds and unlike root parasites, Cuscuta seeds do not require a specific stimulant to induce germination. The yield reductions due to Cuscuta are reported to the tune of 60–65% in chillies, 31–34% in greengram/blackgram, 60–65% in niger, 87% in lentil, 86% in chickpea, 72% in tomatao and 60–70% in alfalfa depending upon its intensity of infestation. Cuscuta can be controlled by using Cuscuta free crop seeds, harrowing in crop rows before it parasitizes the host, cultural practices like tillage, planting time, crop rotation and intercropping, selection of Cuscuta tolerant varieties and use of selective herbicides like pendimethalin, fluchloralin and pronamide. If the infestation is in patches, it can be easily controlled by spraying non-selective herbicides such as glyphosate and paraquat. In this paper, an attempt has been made to review the research work done on biology and management of Cuscuta in India and elsewhere.
69 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2016 | 7 |