Âé¶¹ÒùÔº


Nature's viny vampire: Discovering what drives parasitic Cuscuta campestris

Nature's viny vampire: Discovering what drives parasitic Cuscuta campestris
CcMCA1 inhibition can stall the growth of Cuscuta campestris parasitic organs. Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University

The parasitic vine Cuscuta campestris grows by latching onto the stems and leaves of plants and inserting organs called haustorium into the host plant tissues to draw nutrients. The haustorium is formed when ion channels in the cell membrane are stimulated during coiling and induce a reaction within the cell.

Further, C. campestris has many types of ion channels, but which ones were linked to the development of haustorium were previously unknown.

Professor Aoki led an Osaka Metropolitan University team in discovering that when the expression of the gene Cuscuta campestris MID1-COMPLEMENTING ACTIVITY1 (CcMCA1) was suppressed, the number of haustorium per centimeter decreased. The findings are in Plant and Cell Âé¶¹ÒùÔºiology.

"For the first time, the genes involved in sensing that lead to the climbing of vines, such as morning glories and bindweed, have been discovered," said Osaka Metropolitan University Professor Koh Aoki of the Graduate School of Agriculture.

"We want to continue to identify other ion channel involved in this process and aim to explain the various mechanisms of plant senses on the ," Professor Aoki added.

"Furthermore, we hope this will lead to the development of measures to control plants that cause harm economically to crops."

More information: Jihwan Park et al, Involvement of MID1-COMPLEMENTING ACTIVITY 1 encoding a mechanosensitive ion channel in prehaustorium development of the stem parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris, Plant And Cell Âé¶¹ÒùÔºiology (2025).

Citation: Nature's viny vampire: Discovering what drives parasitic Cuscuta campestris (2025, March 27) retrieved 24 August 2025 from /news/2025-03-nature-viny-vampire-parasitic-cuscuta.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Scientists provide novel strategies for parasitic weed control

0 shares

Feedback to editors