Figure 6 - uploaded by Takeshi Furuhashi
Content may be subject to copyright.
Scheme of chemical translocation between Cuscuta and host plant. Sieve of Cuscuta haustorium allows translocation of metabolites and proteins less than 30 kDa.
Source publication
Cuscuta is a stem holoparasitic plant without leaves or roots, which develops a haustorium and sucks nutrients from host plants. The genus Cuscuta comprises about 200 species, many of which can cause severe problems for certain crops. The parasitic process in Cuscuta begins in finding and attaching to a host plant and then developing a haustorium....
Context in source publication
Context 1
... contrast, a weaker current is bidirectional in phloem. In any case, Cuscuta connect their phloem with the host phloem directly: probably any suitable size of metabolites, proteins, or macromolecules would be taken, without special selection ( Figure 6). PlantÁ plant interactions between Cuscuta and host plants have recently been studied. ...
Citations
... Cuscuta belongs to the Convolvulaceae family, the members of which, such as Convolvulus scammonia and Ipomoea batatas have previously been reported to possess anticancer activity [22]. The molecular phylogenetics research revealed that Cuscuta is the closest relative to the Ipomoea batatas species [23]; the protein extract (Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor) and its purified protein (patatin) have previously been found to exert antiproliferative activity against different cancer types [24][25][26][27][28]. These reports encouraged us to evaluate the antiproliferative potential of proteins from the crude herbal product of Cuscuta epithymum (L.) (CE) grown on host plants Alhagi maurorum and Medicago sativa against estrogen-sensitive MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. ...
... Cuscuta belongs to the Convolvulaceae family, the members of which, such as Convolvulus scammonia and Ipomoea batatas have previously been reported to possess anticancer activity [22]. The molecular phylogenetics research revealed that Cuscuta is the closest relative to the Ipomoea batatas species [23]; the protein extract (Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor) and its purified protein (patatin) have previously been found to exert antiproliferative activity against different cancer types [24][25][26][27][28]. These reports encouraged us to evaluate the antiproliferative potential of proteins from the crude herbal product of Cuscuta epithymum (L.) (CE) grown on host plants Alhagi maurorum and Medicago sativa against estrogen-sensitive MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. ...
Background
The burden of breast cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide, is increasing at an alarming rate. Cuscuta, used in traditional medicine for different ailments, including cancer, is known for containing phytochemicals that exhibit anticancer activity; however, the bioactivities of proteins from this plant remain unexplored. This study aimed to screen the cytotoxic potential of proteins from the crude herbal product of Cuscuta epithymum(L.) (CE) harvested from the host plants Alhagi maurorum and Medicago sativa.
Methods
The proteins from CE were extracted using a salting-out method, followed by fractionation with a gel filtration chromatography column. Gel-free shotgun proteomics was subsequently performed for protein characterization. The viability assay using MTT was applied to deduce the cytotoxic potential of proteins against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with further exploration of the effect of treatment on the expression of the apoptotic mediator BCL2-associated X protein (BAX) and B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (BCL-2) proteins, using western blotting to strengthen the findings from the in vitro viability assay.
Results
The crude proteins (CP) of CE were separated into four protein peaks (P1, P2, P3, and P4) by gel filtration chromatography. The evaluation of potency showed a dose-dependent decline in the MCF-7 cell line after CP, P1, P2, and P3 treatment with the respective IC50 values of 33.8, 43.1, 34.5, and 28.6 µg/ml. The percent viability of the cells decreased significantly upon treatment with 50 µg/ml CP, P1, P2, and P3 (P < 0.001). Western-blot analysis revealed upregulation of proapoptotic protein BAX in the cells treated with CP, P3 (P < 0.01), and P2 (P < 0.05); however, the antiapoptotic protein, BCL-2 was downregulated in the cells treated with CP and P3 (P < 0.01), but no significant change was detected in P2 treated cells. The observed cytotoxic effects of proteins in the CP, P1, P2, and P3 from the in vitro viability assay and western blot depicted the bioactivity potential of CE proteins. The database search revealed the identities of functionally important proteins, including nonspecific lipid transfer protein, superoxide dismutase, carboxypeptidase, RNase H domain containing protein, and polyribonucleotide nucleotidyltransferase, which have been previously reported from other plants to exhibit anticancer activity.
Conclusion
This study indicated the cytotoxic activity of Cuscuta proteins against breast cancer MCF-7 cells and will be utilized for future investigations on the mechanistic effect of active proteins. The survey of CE proteins provided substantial data to encourage further exploration of biological activities exhibited by proteins in Cuscuta.
... The linkage with the host's phloem has been demonstrated through experimental ndings. For instance, studies using the phloem-speci c dye carboxy uorescein have shown movement from the host into Cuscuta tissues [47,48]. Additionally, research on transgenic tobacco plants expressing green uorescent proteins in companion cells has indicated the potential transfer of proteins to Cuscuta, implying the possibility of direct macromolecule transfer [49]. ...
Microbiota associated with host–parasite relationships offer an opportunity to explore interactions among plants, parasites, and microbes, thereby contributing to the overall complexity of community structures. The dynamics of ecological interactions between parasitic plants and their hosts in arid environments remain largely understudied, especially in Africa. This study aimed to examine the bacterial communities of Cuscuta epithymum L. (clover dodder), an epiphytic parasitic plant, and its host, Ziziphus lotus L. (jujuba) , in an arid environment. Our goal was to uncover the ecological complexities of microbial communities within the framework of plant–plant interactions. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the bacterial composition and diversity within populations of the C. epithymum parasite, the infected- and non-infected jujuba host, and their interface at the shoots of the host. This involved amplicon sequencing, targeting the V5–V6 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. A total of 5680 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified, with Pseudomonadota , Bacillota , and Actinobacteriota being prevalent phyla. Among the bacterial communities, three genera were dominant: Cutibacterium , Staphylococcus , and Acinetobacter . Interestingly, analyses of alpha- and beta-diversities revealed no significant difference between jujuba and its parasite, suggesting a shared shoot endophytic bacteriome. This finding advances our comprehension of microbial communities linked to plant–parasite interactions in the arid environments of Africa. Further studies on functional diversity and elucidation of the mechanisms by which bacterial communities transfer between host and parasite are needed.
... Further investigation is necessary to identify and quantify these metabolites and explore their potential roles. In Cuscuta reflexa, these metabolites could be involved in nutrient acquisition from the host, defense against herbivores, or other aspects of its parasitic strategy (Kaiser, et al., 2015;Landi, et al. 2022;Albert, et al., 2008;Furuhashi, et al., 2011) [11,13,1,7] . ...
... Further investigation is necessary to identify and quantify these metabolites and explore their potential roles. In Cuscuta reflexa, these metabolites could be involved in nutrient acquisition from the host, defense against herbivores, or other aspects of its parasitic strategy (Kaiser, et al., 2015;Landi, et al. 2022;Albert, et al., 2008;Furuhashi, et al., 2011) [11,13,1,7] . ...
... Knowledge of non-random distribution of genes from 63 these studies may be even more important for conservation of the species [17,18]. 64 Information on species population structure and demographic data helps to predict the 65 future stability of a species population amidst environmental and anthropogenic 66 disturbances [19,20]. 67 Whereas the ecology, population genetics and phylo-geography of other 68 economically important species like Prunus africana. ...
... Resolving taxonomic uncertainty would help to conserve species diversity 311 because exploitations can lead to overuse of specific populations and unnoticed 312 extinction of parts of the diversity, hence decreasing the overall availability of the 313 resource. 314 315 Plant parasitism is suggested to have evolved in arid environments where water and 316 nutrients are scarce [59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66], to help parasitic plants access carbohydrates, water and 317 mineral nutrients through hosts [60][61][62]. These hemi parasites make their own 318 chlorophyll, but also need hosts to obtain water and nutrients to boost their survival 319 needs. ...
... These hemi parasites make their own 318 chlorophyll, but also need hosts to obtain water and nutrients to boost their survival 319 needs. Without hosts, hemiparasitic growth rate declines rapidly especially in later stages 320 due to poor acquisition of nutrients such as Ca 2+ , K + , P & Mg 2+ [62][63][64][65][66]. For instance, seed 321 germination of Osyris lanceolata does not require any host influence in early stages [61,66] 322 except further development of seedlings whose growth requires hosts [67]. ...
The increasing demand for ornamental, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products is driving 20 exploitation of plant species globally. Sub-Saharan Africa comprises unique, and valuable plant resources and 21 is now a target of plant resource depletion. African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata), a multipurpose and 22 1.drought tolerant species has seen increased exploitation since 1990s and now declared endangered. 23 Initiatives to conserve O. lanceolata are not yet successful in Africa due to poor understanding of the species. 24 This review surveys relevant research on ecology, taxonomy, population dynamics, genetic diversity and 25 ethnobotany of O. lanceolata, and highlight gaps in literature for further research. A scoping review of grey 26 literature, scholarly papers, and reports was applied with predetermined criteria to screen relevant 27 information. Review findings indicate O. lanceolata is a globally distributed species with no identified center 28 of origin. In Africa it ranges from Algeria to Ethiopia and south to South Africa; in Europe it occurs in Iberian 29 Peninsula and Balearic Island; in Asia from India to China, and also in Socotra. The species has a confusing 30 taxonomy, with unresolved issues in nomenclature, country range distribution, extensive synonymisation and 31 variation in growth form (shrub or tree). The species population is reported to be declining in Africa, but, 32 information on population dynamics across its entire range of distribution is anecdotal. Also, ecological 33 factors influencing spatial distribution and survival of the species remain unknown. A variety of uses are 34 reported for O. lanceolata, globally, including: cultural; medicinal and food; dye; perfumery; timber; 35 ethnoveterinary and phytoremediation. Key research areas and implications for conservation of O. lanceolata 36 in Sub-Saharan Africa are proposed. 37
... C. australis is a holoparasitic plant that feeds on the stems of plants and is known to acquire water, carbon, and nutrients from its host via haustoria, and heavily suppresses the growth of its host plant in the field (Zhang et al., 2012;Li et al., 2015). The life cycle of C. australis includes: (1) the seed germination; (2) the early development of the seedling; (3) the search for a host plant; (4) and the interaction with the host plant (Yoder, 1999;Furuhashi et al., 2011). We hypothesized that (1) both water availability and P availability would increase soybean host biomass, C. australis biomass, and the deleterious effect of C. australis on soybean hosts; (2) heavy parasitism would decrease soybean host biomass, but increase both C. australis biomass and the deleterious effect of C. australis on soybean hosts; and (3) there are synergetic effects between water availability and P availability that are associated with parasitism intensity. ...
Introduction
Parasitic plants can damage crop plants and consequently cause yield losses and thus threaten food security. Resource availability (e.g., phosphorus, water) has an important role in the response of crop plants to biotic attacks. However, how the growth of crop plants under parasitism are affected by environmental resource fluctuation is poorly understood.
Methods
We conducted a pot experiment to test the effects of the intensity of Cuscuta australis parasitism and the availability of water and phosphorus (P) on soybean shoot and root biomass.
Results and discussion
We found that low-intensity parasitism caused ~6% biomass reduction, while high-intensity parasitism caused ~26% biomass reduction in soybean. Under 5–15% water holding capacity (WHC), the deleterious effect of parasitism on soybean hosts was ~60% and ~115% higher than that under 45–55% WHC and 85–95% WHC, respectively. When the P supply was 0 μM, the deleterious effect of parasitism on soybean was 67% lower than that when the P supply was 20 μM. Besides, the biomass of C. australis was highest when both the water and the P availability were lowest. Cuscuta australis caused the highest damage to soybean hosts under 5 μM P supply, 5–15% WHC, and high-intensity parasitism. Additionally, C. australis biomass was significantly and negatively related to the deleterious effect of parasitism on soybean hosts and to the total biomass of soybean hosts under high-intensity parasitism, but not under low-intensity parasitism. Although high resource availability can promote soybean growth, the two resources have different impacts on the response of hosts to parasitism. Higher P availability decreased host tolerance to parasites, while higher water availability increased host tolerance. These results indicate that crop management, specifically water and phosphorus supply, can efficiently control C. australis in soybean. To our best knowledge, this appears to be the first study to test the interactive effect of different resources on the growth and response of host plants under parasitism.
... The literature on parasitic plant host biology covers a range of taxa, including the root hemiparasites in Orobanchaceae [17] and Santalaceae [18], mistletoes of Loranthaceae [19] and Viscaceae [20], and the stem holoparasite Cuscuta L. (dodder, Convolvulaceae) [21] and hemiparasite Cassytha L. (laurel dodder, Lauraceae) [22]. Parasitic plants also interact with other plants, influencing competition, community biodiversity, and nutrient cycling [23][24][25]. ...
Many hemiparasites attach to a range of different host species, resulting in complex parasite-host interactions. Comprehensive molecular phylogenies allow the investigation of evolutionary relationships between these host plants. We surveyed the hosts of the laurel dodder (Cassytha filiformis, Lauraceae) in China, representing 184 species from 146 genera, 67 families, and spanning flowering plants, conifers, and ferns, using host phylogenetic relationships to investigate the susceptibility to attack by this hemiparasitic plant among the vascular plants. The process of produced well-formed haustoria by C. filiformis was also observed in detail for six different hosts. Our results show that C. filiformis grows mainly on trees and shrubs from phylogenetically divergent members of the rosid and asterid eudicot clades, often attacking multiple adjacent hosts simultaneously, and forming extensive colonies. However, whether and to what extent transitions between C. filiformis and host plants occur remain unclear. Physiological evidence for the complex parasite-host species interactions need to be studied in the future.
... In contrast to xylem-connecting parasitic plants, where water flow is strong and unidirectional, water flow is bidirectional and weaker in the case of parasitic plants connecting to the host phloem [101]. However, the transpiration rate was increased approximately two-fold in host plants parasitized by Cuscuta reflexa in comparison to control plants, together with increased photosynthesis, indicating that the parasite acted as a strong sink [102]. ...
The aim of the present review was to reconsider basic information about various functional aspects related to plant water content and provide evidence that the usefulness of measuring absolute water content in plant sciences is undervalued. First, general questions about water status in plants as well as methods for determining water content and their associated problems were discussed. After a brief overview of the structural organization of water in plant tissues, attention was paid to the water content of different parts of plants. Looking at the influence of environmental factors on plant water status, the differences caused by air humidity, mineral supply, biotic effects, salinity, and specific life forms (clonal and succulent plants) were analyzed. Finally, it was concluded that the expression of absolute water content on a dry biomass basis makes easily noticeable functional sense, but the physiological meaning and ecological significance of the drastic differences in plant water content need to be further elucidated.
... Several research workers have isolated various chemicals from this miracle plant which are of therapeutic potential and show ethnomedical and pharmacological activities. However, many reviews exist about its phytochemistry, pharmacology [36,37,38,39,8] as well as parasitic management and mechanism [40,41] . Above all the importance of Cuscuta in relation to host has been addressed in detail. ...
... Therefore, obtaining water and nutrients from their host is the top priority for their survival. Unlike root parasitic plants that mostly depend on haustorium-inducing factors (HIFs) (Yoshida et al., 2016), the Cuscuta haustorium induction is also regulated by environmental signals such as light signals (Furuhashi et al., 2011). These unique lifestyles and morphological characteristics make Cuscuta species a good system to study how autotrophic plants evolved parasitism by attaching onto above-ground organs of their host plants. ...
... Based on previous studies, the two primary triggers for Cuscuta haustorium initiation are the far-red light signal and mechanical stimulation (Tada et al., 1996;Furuhashi et al., 2011) ( Figure 2). Upon receiving these light signals and physical contacts, the prehaustorium structure starts to develop. ...
... PIFs are transcription factors that regulate the downstream gene e x p r e s s i o n i n v o l v e d i n s k o t o m o r p h o g e n e s i s a n d photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis. Cuscuta species likely coopt similar signaling pathways and use phytochromes to control the genes involved in hormone transport or biosynthesis ( Figure 2) (Furuhashi et al., 1997;Furuhashi et al., 2011;Furuhashi et al., 2021;Pan et al., 2022). A previous study indicates that strong far-red light or low red to far-red ratios (low red light and high far-red light mixture condition) promoted Cuscuta stem coiling and haustorium formation (Furuhashi et al., 1997;Haidar and Orr, 1999). ...
Parasitic plants are notorious for causing serious agricultural losses in many countries. Specialized intrusive organs, haustoria, confer on parasitic plants the ability to acquire water and nutrients from their host plants. Investigating the mechanism involved in haustorium development not only reveals the fascinating mystery of how autotrophic plants evolved parasitism but also provides the foundation for developing more effective methods to control the agricultural damage caused by parasitic plants. Cuscuta species, also known as dodders, are one of the most well-known and widely spread stem holoparasitic plants. Although progress has been made recently in understanding the evolution and development of haustoria in root parasitic plants, more and more studies indicate that the behaviors between root and stem haustorium formation are distinct, and the mechanisms involved in the formation of these organs remain largely unknown. Unlike most endoparasites and root holoparasitic plants, which have high host-specificity and self- or kin-recognition to avoid forming haustoria on themselves or closely related species, auto-parasitism and hyper-parasitism are commonly observed among Cuscuta species. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of haustorium development in dodders and the unique characteristics of their parasitizing behaviors. We also outline the advantages of using Cuscuta species as model organisms for haustorium development in stem holoparasitic plants, the current unknown mysteries and limitations in the Cuscuta system, and potential future research directions to overcome these challenges.
