The parasitic vines of the genus Cuscuta form haustoria that grow into other plants and connect with their vascular system, thus allowing the parasite to feed on its host. A major obstacle that meets the infection organ as it penetrates the host tissue is the rigid plant cell wall. In the present study, we examined the activity of xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases (XTHs) during the ...

Chloroplast RNAs are stabilized and processed by a multitude of nuclear-encoded RNA-binding proteins, often in response to external stimuli like light and temperature. A particularly interesting RNA-based regulation occurs with the <i>psbA</i> mRNA, which shows light-dependent translation. Recently, the chloroplast ribonucleoprotein CP33B was identified as a ligand of the <i>psbA</i> mRNA. We here ...

The Cuscuta genus comprises obligate parasitic plants that have an unusually wide host range. Whether Cuscuta uses different infection strategies for different hosts or whether the infection strategy is mechanistically and enzymatically conserved remains unknown. To address this, we investigated molecular events during the interaction between field dodder (Cuscuta campestris) and two host species ...

Parasitic plants live in intimate physical connection with other plants serving as their hosts. These host plants provide the inorganic and organic compounds that the parasites need for their propagation. The uptake of the macromolecular compounds happens through symplasmic connections in the form of plasmodesmata. In contrast to regular plasmodesmata, which connect genetically identical cells of ...

A parasitic lifestyle, where plants procure some or all of their nutrients from other living plants, has evolved independently in many dicotyledonous plant families and is a major threat for agriculture globally. Nevertheless, no genome sequence of a parasitic plant has been reported to date. Here we describe the genome sequence of the parasitic field dodder, Cuscuta campestris. The genome contains ...

The parasitic plant genus <i>Cuscuta</i> is notoriously difficult to transform and to propagate or regenerate in vitro. With it being a substantial threat to many agroecosystems, techniques allowing functional analysis of gene products involved in host interaction and infection mechanisms are, however, in high demand. We set out to explore whether <i>Agrobacterium</i>‐mediated transformation of ...

Rising atmospheric carbon concentrations affect global health, the economy, and overall quality of life. We are fast approaching climate tipping points that must be addressed, not only by reducing emissions but also through new innovation and action toward carbon capture for sequestration and utilization (CCSU). In this perspective, we delineate next-generation biotechnologies for CCSU supported by ...

Genome sequences from over 200 plant species have already been published, with this number expected to increase rapidly due to advances in sequencing technologies. Once a new genome has been assembled and the genes identified, the functional annotation of their putative translational products, proteins, using ontologies is of key importance as it places the sequencing data in a biological context. ...

The angiosperm genus <i>Cuscuta</i> lives as an almost achlorophyllous root- and leafless holoparasite and has therefore occupied scientists for more than a century. The ‘evolution’ of <i>Cuscuta</i> research started with early studies that established the phylogenetic framework for this unusual genus. It continued to produce groundbreaking cytological, morphological, and physiological insight ...

<p><i>Background - </i>Gene expression changes that govern essential biological processes can occur at the cell-specific level. To gain insight into such events, laser microdissection is applied to cut out specific cells or tissues from which RNA for gene expression analysis is isolated. However, the preparation of plant tissue sections for laser microdissection and subsequent RNA isolation usually ...