Journal
TREE PHYSIOLOGY
Volume 43, Issue 11, Pages 2001-2011Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpad100
Keywords
biotic stress; Cistus albidus; Cytinus hypocistis; holoparasitism; jasmonates; malvales; non-photosynthetic tissues; parasitic plant; phytohormones
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study investigates the relationship between the dominant shrub Cistus albidus and the root holoparasitic plant Cytinus hypocistis in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. The results show that the shrub exhibits a high tolerance to parasitism and that seasonal changes and geographical location can impact the plant-host interaction.
Mediterranean-type ecosystems provide a unique opportunity to study parasitic plant-host interactions, such as the relationship between the dominant shrub Cistus albidus L. and the root holoparasitic plant Cytinus hypocistis L. We examined this interaction (i) locally, by measuring the hormonal profiling of the interaction zone between the holoparasitic plant and the host, and (ii) systemically, by examining the hormonal profiling and physiological status of leaves from infested and uninfested plants. Furthermore, we explored how temporal variation (seasonal effects) and geographical location influenced the systemic hormonal and physiological response of leaves. Results shed light on tissue-related variations in hormones, suggesting the parasite exerted a sink effect, mainly influenced by cytokinins. Jasmonates triggered a defense response in leaves, far from the infestation point, and both jasmonates and abscisic acid (ABA) appeared to be involved in the tolerance to holoparasitism when plants were simultaneously challenged with summer drought. Parasitism did not have any major negative impact on the host, as indicated by physiological stress markers in leaves, thus indicating a high tolerance of the shrub C. albidus to the root holoparasitic plant C. hypocistis. Rather, parasitism seemed to exert a priming-like effect and some compensatory effects were observed (increased chlorophyll contents) in the host under mild climatic conditions. We conclude that (i) cytokinins, jasmonates and ABA play a role at the local and systemic levels in the response of C. albidus to the biotic stress caused by C. hypocistis, and that (ii) seasonal changes in environmental conditions and geographical location may impact holoparasitic plant-host interactions in the field, modulating the physiological response.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available