Direct infection of potato tubers by the root parasite Orobanche aegyptiaca

• Published in: Weed research Vol. 47; no. 4; pp. 276 - 279
• Main Author: JOEL, D.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; broomrape; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; haustorium; Orobanche; Parasitic plants; Parasitic plants. Weeds; parasitic weeds; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; potato tuber; xylem connection; Plant tissue; Orobanche; Vegetables; Xylem; broomrape; Haustorium; Infection; Potato; potato tuber; parasitic weeds; Dicotyledones; Weed science; Angiospermae; Orobanchaceae; Tuber; Spermatophyta; Conductive tissue; xylem connection; Parasitic plant
• ISSN: 0043-1737; 1365-3180
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3180.2007.00570.x

Parasitic plants of the Orobanchaceae are known as obligate root parasites that develop haustoria that connect to roots of various host plants. This article describes, for the first time, a case where the root parasite successfully connected to potato tubers, i.e. to the swollen portion of an underground stem rather than to a root. The rhizosphere of Orobanche aegyptiaca and of its host Solanum tuberosum (potato) was carefully examined. In anatomical studies, the adventitious roots were directly connected to potato tubers. Numerous secondary haustoria, which developed along the adventitious roots in close vicinity to the potato tuber, penetrated the tuber epidermis and the perimedullary tuber parenchyma and developed xylem strands that are presumably connected to the minor xylem strands within the tuber cortex. These findings indicate that parasites of the Orobanchaceae that normally attack host roots may also parasitise underground stem tubers.