Abstract

Phtheirospermum japonicum, a facultative hemiparasitic plant of the Orobanchaceae family, parasitizes a broad range of host plants through the haustoria it produces along its roots. These haustoria form xylem-to-xylem connections to the vasculature of the host root, enabling the parasite to parasitize its host for nutrients and water. Before and during parasitism, P. japonicum shoots are photosynthetic active, providing carbohydrates required for growth. We asked if and how the shoots influence parasitism-related processes in the root. Our experiments show that haustorium formation is indeed tied into processes in the shoot. In parts, this is regulated by small peptides from the CLAVATA3 /ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION (CLE) family. In my talk, I will provide insights into how CLE peptides produced in haustoria regulate the formation of additional haustoria and how this system may have evolved in obligate parasitic plants.

Greifenhagen A., Ruwe H. et al. (2024). PNAS https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2414582121