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Newly emerged dodder seedlings, which are used as a biofix for timing preemergence herbicide and short-term flooding control strategies.
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Dodders (Cuscuta spp.) are parasitic plants that threaten the sustainability of many crops. Because this parasite is very adept and successful from biological and ecological perspectives, a single control strategy is unlikely to provide sufficient economic control. Dodder (C. gronovii) is a particularly serious pest in commercial cranberry (Vaccini...
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Context 1
... dichlobenil to be most effective, it must be applied prior to germination. To determine this biofix, one must scout areas that are likely to have dodder seeds (e.g., areas where the fruit is removed during harvest) or bare areas (which warm faster) for newly emerged seedlings; the seedlings can be very difficult to find (Figure 3). Due to these logistical constraints, applications are frequently made too early or too late and control is often less than satisfactory [52]. ...
Citations
... Other implementations should be explored to expand the applicator's potential use cases, such as alternate cropping systems or agrochemicals. Cranberry is the evident option, given the similarities to wild blueberries and the documented use of dichlobenil [22][23][24][25][26] . That said, other cropping systems may have use cases for dichlobenil which are not currently employed due to the herbicide's cost. ...
While spot spraying has gained increasing popularity in recent years, spot application of granule agrochemical has seen little development. Despite the potential for the technology, there currently exists no commercially available granular applicators capable of spot application. Therefore, the goal of this study was to design, build, and lab evaluate a precision applicator for spot applying granular agrochemical in wild blueberry. The design incorporated a John Deere RC2000 with a custom control box, recirculation system, and electrically actuated valves. All components were modified to fit a Valmar 1255 Twin-Roller. The system receives inputs from a predeveloped prescription map and can actuate each of the twelve valves separately to provide individual orifice control. Casoron® G4 was used as the testing agrochemical and in cycling the product pneumatically for 1 hour incurred no significant product degradation (p = 0.110). In lab evaluations, the applicator encountered zero errors in reading prescription maps and actuating the correct valves accordingly. Further, the granule recycling system had zero instances where product built up in the lines or jammed the valves. In all, this project represents the first successful development of a precision granular spot applicator for any cropping system.
... These include cuscutin, cuscutalin 1,63,78,80 , benzopyrones, dulcitol, quercetin 11 . In addition, it containsa large number of flavonoids 1,10,80 , glucopyranoside 64 , alkaloids, glycosides, resin, tannin and carbohydrate 10 . Stem contain the compound 5-hydroxy-7methoxy-6-(2,3-epoxy-3-methyl butyl)-flavanone, reflexin 74 and some steroids, glycoside. ...
Aftimoon (Cuscuta reflexa), a member of Convolvulaceae family is a miraculous parasitic plant with a rich history of utilization in traditional medicine. It has been extensively employed in the Unani treatments all over the world, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, to treat and prevent a variety of illness. Over the years, numerous research findings have documented its diverse therapeutic effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective activities. It is utilized as a single medication (mufrad) in powder, mixture, and decoction form and as compound formulations (murakkab) to treat a variety of ailments, which includes hepatitis, palpitations, varicose veins, mental ailments such as epilepsy and depression as well as dermatological conditions such as vitiligo and pityriasis. A number of biologically active compounds with therapeutic potential have been recognized and isolated from this wonder plant which includes amarbelin, sterol glycosides, cuscutalin, bergenin, and others. The synergistic actions of its constituents contribute to its multifaceted healing properties. This review explores the therapeutic potential of Aftimoon, shedding light on its pharmacological properties, traditional uses, and emerging research. By synthesizing traditional knowledge with modern scientific insights, this review aims to illuminate the diversified healing properties of C.reflexa and inspire further research and foster its integration into mainstream healthcare practices.
Keywords: Aftimoon; Cuscuta reflexa; Therapeutic potential; Unani medicines
... The embedded part in the host produces a new vegetative body in the next growing season and Cuscuta thrives as a perennial on the arboreal host plants. this phenomenon of Cuscuta haustorium perennating within the tissues of the host and regenerating new shoots in the following spring/ growing season is well-documented (see truscott, 1958;Sandler, 2010). according to alakonya et al. (2012), the region of Cuscuta stem from which the meristem for haustorium development is derived has sufficient indeterminate meristematic activity to be able to form vegetative as well as flowering branches, and thus, may be involved in the regeneration of new shoots. ...
Cuscuta reflexa roxb. (Convolvulaceae) is a total stem parasite that infects a large number of angiosperms. it grows and survives by parasitising host plants and extracting water and nutrients by developing and inserting into the host tissues, a haustorium. in general, C. reflexa stem infects the aerial parts of host plants. Field observations revealed that C. reflexa is found on the canopies of the plants well exposed to sunlight and often exhibits an annual cyclic pattern of growth on some trees such as Holoptelea integrifolia, Cascabela thevetia and Ziziphus mauritiana. it dries and withers in the months the hosts shed their leaves and regenerates after the hosts have sprouted new leaves. Moreover, C. reflexa is seen to forage and infect preferentially certain host plants such as H. integrifolia. The first step in parasitisation by C. reflexa is to attach tightly to the host plant by developing an adhesive disk at the site of contact with the host. the nutrient-sucking parasitic organ, the haustorium, forms in the center of the disk and penetrates the host tissues. Since the formation of adhesive disk is an important process in the parasitisation by Cuscuta, and there is a paucity of information on the subject, the process was investigated in a variety of host plants. the structural development of the adhesive disk of C. reflexa was studied in the widely related host plants, Alstonia scholaris (l.) r.Br., Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd., Volkameria inermis l. and Senna siamea (lam.) h.S. irwin & Barneby, using light microscopy. The process during parasitisation of the different host plants appears to be similar. at the site of contact with the host, the epidermal cells of the parasite along with a few underlying cortical cells enlarge and form the swollen adhesive disk. the epidermal cells elongate radially towards the host surface. they are vacuolated and possess hypertrophied nuclei. the outer apical surface of the cells in contact with host epidermis is highly invaginated/infolded and lobed. a layer of cementing material is found between the lobed epidermal surface of the disk and the outer surface of the host at the site of contact, binding the two surfaces tightly. the nature of the cementing material appears to be different from that of the primary cellulosic walls of the epidermis. The invaginated surface of the epidermal cells provides a larger interface for secretion of the cementing material enabling a tighter adhesion to the host.
... (28), benzopyrones, and myricetin (Kelker, 1984). Moreover, it also contains alkaloids, protein, resin, tannin, glycosides, and carbohydrates (31,), a large number of flavonoids (31,70,71), and glucopyranoside (99). Some minerals like aluminium, iron, calcium, sodium, and potassium were also isolated (31,). ...
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Fam. Convolvulaceae) is commonly known as aftimoon, amarbel, akashbel, or dodder in the alternative medicine system. It is widely used in the Unani system of medicine (USM) for its useful therapeutic effects due to its active constituents. It is used to cure various diseases through anti-tumor activity, anti-arthritis, hypotensive and bradycardia effects. Various phytoconstituents were isolated from it, like protein, alkaloids, flavonoids, dulcitol, luteolin, quercetin. The kaempferol and quercetin, a major active constituent in it, have various therapeutic activities apart from antidiabetic activity. In USM, Cuscuta reflexa is used to treat hepatitis, melancholia, chronic splenitis, and cancer. Many pharmacological studies have been carried out to explore its hypotensive, anti-HIV, antibacterial, antioxidant activities. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of Cuscuta reflexa with special reference to Unani medicine and validate its various effects by pharmacological studies done so far.
... These results agree with [56] who reported that farm workers were responsible for removing more than 90% of the dodder weed attached on tomatoes. However, this method remains only viable when infestations are in small patches, but becomes prohibitive when infestations are extensive [42,57,58]. This method generally has many benefits such as increased sunlight penetration into the canopy, reduction of photosynthate loss in the host plant, and the potential to reduce the number of seeds produced by the parasite by reducing overall biomass, among others [59]. ...
... This method generally has many benefits such as increased sunlight penetration into the canopy, reduction of photosynthate loss in the host plant, and the potential to reduce the number of seeds produced by the parasite by reducing overall biomass, among others [59]. However, farmers noted that the method is very labor intensive [58] and time-consuming [43]. It might also not control dodder permanently because its haustoria can regrow from small stem fragments left behind [57], potentially negating control efforts from mechanical removal of exterior stems [58]. ...
... However, farmers noted that the method is very labor intensive [58] and time-consuming [43]. It might also not control dodder permanently because its haustoria can regrow from small stem fragments left behind [57], potentially negating control efforts from mechanical removal of exterior stems [58]. ...
... , 2]. Cuscuta is one of the most economically detrimental groups of parasitic plants worldwide as infestation by some of its species can result in major yield losses in numerous crops [3][4][5][6][7]. ...
... Seeds are either dispersed or persistent in a seed bank [6][7][8], and thus important both from applied and theoretical points of view. The worldwide anthropogenic dispersal of Cuscuta seeds through contaminated commercial seed shipments and herbal products has been well documented [e.g., 4,6,9]. ...
Cuscuta (dodders) is a group of parasitic plants with tremendous economic and ecological significance. Their seeds are often described as “simple” or “unspecialized” because they do not exhibit any classical dispersal syndrome traits. Previous studies of seed morphology and/or anatomy were conducted on relatively few species. We expanded research to 101 species; reconstructed ancestral character states; investigated correlations among seed characters and explored allometric relationships with breeding systems, the size of geographical distribution of species in North America, as well as the survival of seedlings. Seed morphological and anatomical characters permit the separation of subgenera, but not of sections. Identification of Cuscuta species using seed characteristics is difficult but not impossible if their geographical origin is known. Seeds of subg. Monogynella species, exhibit the likely ancestral epidermis type consisting of elongated and interlocked cells, which are morphologically invariant, uninfluenced by dryness/wetness. Subgenera Cuscuta, Pachystigma and Grammica have evolved a seed epidermis with isodiametric cells that can alternate their morphology between two states: pitted when seeds are dry, and papillose after seed imbibition. A seed coat with double palisade architecture throughout the entire seed has also apparently evolved in subgenera Cuscuta, Pachystigma and Grammica, but several species in two clades of the latter subgenus reverted to a single palisade layer outside the hilum area. The same latter species also evolved a peculiar, globose embryo, likely having a storage role, in contrast to the ancestral filiform and coiled embryo present throughout the remainder of the genus. Autogamous species had on average the highest number of seeds per capsule, whereas fully xenogamous taxa had the lowest. No correlation was revealed between the size of the seeds and the size of their geographical distribution in North America, but seedlings of species with larger seeds survived significantly longer than seedlings resulted from smaller seeds. Diversity and evolution of seed traits was discussed in relationship with their putative roles in dormancy, germination and dispersal.
... Cuscuta genus (Convolvulaceae) comprises holo-and hemiparasitic annual plants (Stefanovic et al., 2002), while some representatives developed intermediate strategies of parasitism (for review see Těšitel, 2016). Many of them parasitize economically important crops and ornamental trees and reduce their productivity and lifespan Sandler, 2010;García et al., 2014). For example, the field dodder (C. ...
Dodders (Cuscuta spp.)parasite a broad spectrum of crops and cause harvest devastation. Some efficient approaches aimed at restricting dodder distribution can be based on the control of seed germination. The corresponding processes are being studied, however, to a less extent compared to the development of vegetative or generative Cuscuta organs. This work focuses on the seed architecture and chemical composition of dodder species widely distributed in Europe – the European C. europaea L. and the Eastern dodder C. monogyna Vahl. We show that both species have special endosperm architecture and different seed coat thickness. Furthermore, histochemical staining revealed peculiar storage compounds composition and localisation in seeds. Starch deposits occurred directly beneath C. europaea testa, while only in the embryo in C. monogyna. Oleic, palmitic and linoleic acids detected by GC–MS were the most abundant fatty acids (FAs)in seeds of both dodders. Allocation of oil bodies and species-specific testa structure in the hilar region coincide with the dodders’ germination rates. The observed features likely affect seed germination, dormancy and host dependence of the individual species. Deeper knowledge on the corresponding processes and on the seed structure might provide a basis for efficient and environment-friendly control of dodders.
... Which cause various economic losses that may lead to total loss of yield (Press and Phoenix, 2005 and Ali 2010). The difficulty of controlling field dodder is its rapid growth, and keep its seeds alive for long periods of time and resistance to harsh environmental conditions and production of large quantities of seeds (Nickrent and Musselman, 2004), It has been shown in previous studies until the present, there is no universally acceptable, effective, selective, practically and economically selective method for controlling that parasitic plant for many reasons, including the close correlation bond between parasite and host plant, extensive range of parasites and parasite production has a huge number of seeds, One plant of them produces more than 1600 seeds which can survive in the soil for decades (Sandler, 2010). There is an urgent need to discover and use products found in nature to kill pests that harm agriculture and public health (Duke and Rimando et al., 2002). ...
Pot trial was carried out at the plastic house of the Center for Desert Studies in the summer season of 2018 to test the allelopathic effect of the essential oil and the alcohol extract of caraway fruits on dodder growth lucerne. Trial consisted of two factors: extract type, represented by essential oil, extract of alcohol and the second concentration factor, with 0, 10% and 15% of the essential oil and the extract alcohol, the factors were completely distributed within with three replicates (CRD). Results showed the superiority of the alcohol extract in the rate of killing the dodder after 3, 6 and 9 after of spraying (36.12, 53.89 and 66.02%) and the re-growth lucerne after 9 and 16 after of spraying (12.00 and 16.1%) and the number of branches after 33 after of spraying (4.67 plant-1 branch) and number of leaves after 33 days of spraying (8.89 leaf-1) and plant height (8.00 cm), sequentially However, the 10% concentration increased the number of leaves and plant height after 33 after of spraying (8.33 leaf plant-1 and 8.17 cm), respectively. GC / MS analysis showed that there were 6 compounds in the essential oil and d-limonene and d-carvone were present (45.00 and 28.22%). and 21 in the non-fatty layer isolated from the alcohol extract. 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 1,4-benzenedi carboxylic acid and octadecanoic ethyl ester were highest ratio of 29.73% and 21.55% 12.44%, respectively. While the number of compounds separated in the fatty layer isolated from the alcohol extract was 42 compounds, which contained compound 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (z, z) and nonacosane by 47.05 and 9.75%, respectively.
... Dodder was selected as an AHP case study as its management is not straight-forward; no single tactic provides adequate control across years and location [97,98]. AHP is especially attractive for this particular weed problem because it organizes both tangible (e.g., chemical efficacy) and intangible factors (e.g., a grower's experience or preference) in a systematic way. ...
Integrated weed management (IWM) has been part of cranberry cultivation since its inception in the early 19th century. Proper site and cultivar selection, good drainage, rapid vine establishment, and hand weeding are as important now for successful weed management as when the industry first started. In 1940, Extension publications listed eight herbicides (e.g., petroleum-based products, inorganic salts and sulfates) for weed control. Currently, 18 herbicides representing 11 different modes of action are registered for use on cranberries. Nonchemical methods, such as hand weeding, sanding, flooding, and proper fertilization, remain integral for managing weed populations; new tactics such as flame cultivation have been added to the toolbox. Priority ratings have been developed to aid in weed management planning. Despite many efforts, biological control of weeds remains elusive on the commercial scale. Evaluation of new herbicides, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), image analysis, and precision agriculture technology; investigation of other management practices for weeds and their natural enemies; utilization of computational decision making and Big Data; and determination of the impact of climate change are research areas whose results will translate into new use recommendations for the weed control of cranberry.
... Trials include fungal pathogens (Fallahpour et al. 2016) and coleopteran parasites of the genus Smicronyx Schönherr, 1843 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), or weevils (Zhekova et al. 2014). Several weevil species express specific preference to Cuscuta spp. as hosts and were found to cause substantial growth retardation, prevent flowering and seed formation, and eventually lead to death of infected dodders (Sandler 2010). Smicronyx spp. ...
Main conclusion:
The weevil gall contains two distinct regions, differing in hydrolytic and antioxidant enzymes activity and profiles, which is also functionally distinct from the non-infected Cuscuta stems. Weevils of the genus Smicronyx are gall-forming insects, widely distributed on parasitic flowering plants of the genus Cuscuta. Thus, they are considered epiparasites and potential method for biological control of their agriculturally harmful hosts. Although several reports on gall formation in Cuscuta spp. exist, the metabolic and functional changes, occurring in the gall, remained largely unknown. Smicronyx sp. galls, collected from a wild Cuscuta campestris population, were dissected into two distinct regions, inner and outer cortex, defined by the higher chlorophyll content of the inner cortex. Based on hydrolytic and antioxidant enzymes activity and isoenzymatic profiles as analyzed after electrophoretic separation, we suggested that the gall differs in its metabolic activity from the non-infected plant tissue. While the outer cortex serves as a region of nutrient storage and mobilization, the inner cortex is directly involved in larvae nutrition. The increase in metabolic activity resulted in significantly increased superoxide dismutase activity in the gall, while several other antioxidant enzymes diminished. The present research offers new insights into the functionally differing regions of Smicronyx galls and the metabolic changes, induced in C. campestris in result of the gall formation.
