The Effect of a Host on the Primary Metabolic Profiling of Cuscuta Campestris’ Main Organs, Haustoria, Stem and Flower

Abstract

Cuscuta campestris (dodder) is a stem holoparasitic plant without leaves or roots that parasitizes various types of host plants and causes damage to certain crops worldwide. This study aimed at gaining more knowledge about the effect of the hosts on the parasite’s levels of primary metabolites. To this end, metabolic profiling analyses were performed on the parasite’s three main organs, haustoria, stem and flowers, which developed on three hosts, Heliotropium hirsutissimum, Polygonum equisetiforme and Amaranthus viridis. The results showed significant differences in the metabolic profiles of C. campestris that developed on the different hosts, suggesting that the parasites rely highly on the host’s metabolites. However, changes in the metabolites’ contents between the organs that developed on the same host suggest that the parasite can also self-regulate its metabolites. Flowers, for example, have significantly higher levels of most of the amino acids and sugar acids, while haustoria and stem have higher levels of several sugars and polyols. Determination of total soluble proteins and phenolic compounds showed that the same pattern is detected in the organs unrelated to the hosts. This study contributes to our knowledge about the metabolic behavior of this parasite.

Metabolic changes induced by Cuscuta campestris Yunck in the host species Artemisia campestris subsp. variabilis (Ten.) Greuter as a strategy for successful parasitisation

“…Similarly, increased levels in phenylpropanoids such as coumaric acid, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate, ferulic acid, and shikimate were also observed in our study. In another recent study, where metabolic profiling analyses were performed on the parasite’s three main organs, haustoria, stem, and flowers, developing on three different hosts ( Heliotropium hirsutissimum, Polygonum equisetiforme, and Amaranthus viridis ) revealed that the metabolic profile of C. campestris parasitising different host species was characterised by noteworthy differences, suggesting that the parasites significantly rely on the host’s metabolites and that the parasite is able to self-regulate its metabolism (Kumar and Amir 2021 ).…”

The Effect of 10 Crop Plants That Served as Hosts on the Primary Metabolic Profile of the Parasitic Plant Phelipanche aegyptiaca

“…The protocol to determine the primary metabolites is based on our previous studies [12,15,[18][19][20]. Each of the broomrape samples was homogenized using a Restch MM 301 homogenizer.…”

“…Yet, many questions remain unanswered regarding the dependence of the parasite on the metabolites of their hosts [7]. Recently, in a study of the metabolic profiles of three main organs of the holoparasitic plant Cuscuta campestris (dodder) that developed on three different hosts, it was discovered that the levels of metabolites in the parasite differed significantly between the hosts [18]. This suggests that the parasites rely heavily on the host's metabolites.…”

“…This suggests that the parasites rely heavily on the host's metabolites. However, changes in the metabolites' contents between the organs of the parasite that developed on the same host demonstrate that the parasite can also self-regulate its own metabolites [18].…”

“Parasitic Weeds: Biology and Control” Special Issue Editors Summary

“…Finally, 11 papers were collected for the SI; of them, five original research papers present new strategies in parasitic weeds management [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], two focused on crop resistance to parasitic plants [ 16 , 17 ] and three provide new insights on plant—parasite interaction [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. One Opinion Paper provides a personal view of the present status of parasitic weed problems and their control written by Chris Parker, who dedicated his entire long scientific career to parasitic plants and their management [ 21 ].…”