Host Dependence and Preference of the Root Hemiparasite, Pedicularis cephalantha Franch. (Orobanchaceae)

Abstract

The interaction between parasitic plants and their hosts is an important topic in both agriculture and ecology. Little, however, is known about that of the hemiparasite Pedicularis. It is essential to understand the host dependence and preference of Pedicularis for successful cultivation of plants in this genus and for understanding the roles they play in natural communities. We tested the effects of two herbaceous host species (Trifolium repens and Polypogon monspeliensis) on the survival and growth performance of Pedicularis cephalantha. Five P. cephalantha seedlings and two host plants were planted in each pot. In the control, no host plants were planted (treatment 1). Host plants were planted in three combinations: only T. repens (treatment 2) or P. monspeliensis (treatment 3) or a mixture of both (treatment 4). The results showed that P. cephalantha performed better in the presence of host plants, and host plants are more essential to P. cephalantha for proper development than for survival. The grass host P. monspeliensis proved to be a better host plant for P. cephalantha than the legume host T. repens. The high dependence of P. cephalantha on host plants and its host preference were demonstrated in this study. This is the first report of the performance of Chinese Pedicularis species in cultivation throughout all life stages (from seeds to seeds).

Host shoot clipping depresses the growth of weedy hemiparasitic Pedicularis kansuensis

“…Higher concentration levels of mineral ions (e.g., potassium) along with lower water potentials facilitate nutrient absorption by parasitic plants from their host (Westwood 2013). Virtually, all root hemiparasitic plants benefit greatly from attachment to a suitable host plant (Loveys and Tyerman 2002;Matthies 1997;Ren et al 2010). As most root hemiparasites extract nutrients directly from host roots, changes in resource allocation to host roots may have a significant effect on growth of the root hemiparasites.…”

SEED GERMINATION AND PLANT DEVELOPMENT IN Escobedia grandiflora (OROBANCHACEAE): EVIDENCE OF OBLIGATE HEMIPARASITISM?

“…For example, species of Euphrasia parasitize both monocot (Poaceae) and eudicot (Fabaceae) plants (Yeo, 1964). In contrast, some cases of high host specificity have also been documented (Ren et al, 2010). Studies carried out to evaluate the possibility of establishing some parasitic species of Euphrasia (Yeo, 1961;1964) under culture conditions found that the plants can grow when planted as seeds or seedlings in pots in which a host has previously been established.…”

Does endophyte symbiosis resist allelopathic effects of an invasive plant in degraded grassland?

“…First, as a hemiparasitic plant it may decrease the host plant's fitness by reducing the available resources for growth and reproduction (Marvier, 1996;Salonen and Lammi, 2001;Jiang et al, 2003;Lehtonen et al, 2005;Yoder et al, 2009;Hautier et al, 2010;Ren et al, 2010aRen et al, ,2010bSui et al, 2014;Bao et al, 2015). Second, it can release root exudates that have allelopathic effects on the seed germination and seedling growth of neighboring Pooideae grasses (Wei, 2010;Bao and Wang, 2011;Shang and Xu, 2012).…”

“…Plant growth in the area is limited by two main factors related to the climate: low temperatures and short growing season (Ren et al, 2010a(Ren et al, ,2010bLi et al, 2013). Annual temperature and precipitation range from À1.37e5.5 C and 270e520 mm, respectively, and winter frost continues for 7 months from Oct. to May each year.…”