Haustorial Development of Dendrophthoe falcat...

Haustorial Development of Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f.) Ettingsh. - An Overview

Author Name : Subhashini Kuramana, Gaddeyya Gandipilli, G.Vinay Kumar, P.K. Ratna Kumar

ABSTRACT

Phanerogamic plant parasites such as mistletoes are unique in their mode of nutrition and existence depending on various host plants. They can trap food from the host trees by means of penetrating roots called the haustoria. The haustorium is a hemispherical, multicellular specialised organ that can invades the host tissue to uptake water and nutrients. The haustorium is a vital organ that functions in attachment, penetration, and transfer of nutrients. A mistletoe, Dendrophthoe falcata (L.f.) Ettingsh., popularly known as Loranthus is a stem hemiparasite.  D. falcata received a considerable attention among phanerogamic parasites due to its negative impact on host plants. Therefore, an organised survey (October 2020 to June, 2021) was conducted to establish a correlation between the parasite and its host plant Mangifera indica L. (Mango). The information regarding to host-parasite interaction, the origin and spread of specialised structures such as haustorial roots and their physiological processes were recorded. Some mango orchards of Viziangaram District of Andhra Pradesh were periodically visited to observe and record morphological and phenological aspects of parasite and host. Despite its importance, the developmental processes of haustoria are mostly unknown. Therefore, important morphological and physiological features of D. falcata were systematically studied to understand the dynamics of host-parasite interaction and haustorial development.

Keywords: Dendrophthoe falcata, Mistletoes, Hemiparasite, Haustoria, Host plant, Epicortical Roots