Field Dodder Life Cycle and Interaction with Host Plants

Abstract

Cuscuta as a generalist type of holoparasitic plant interacts with various hostplants in different manners, and all Cuscuta species depend (absolutely) on hostplants to complete their life cycle. Field dodder is a parasitic plant that attaches tostems and leaves of broadleaf plants, including weeds, field crops, vegetables, andornamentals, across most agricultural regions of the world. Most hosts of Cuscutaplants are passive, only a few hosts are known to show clear resistance (e.g.,Ipomoea sp.). Unlike other weeds occurring in anthropogenic habitats that havebeen well-studied in their taxonomic, biological, and ecological aspects, as wellas their anatomical and physiological properties to some extent, the parasiticflowering species of the genus Cuscuta have been examined very scarcely despitethe great damage that they are able to cause. More extensive research is required in order to develop new means for parasitic weed control. A basic research shouldidentify new targets for control within the life cycle of the parasites and amongtheir metabolic activities