Enhanced Host-Parasite Resistance Based on Down-Regulation of Target Genes Is Likely by Mobile Small RNA.

RNA silencing refers to diverse mechanisms that control gene expression at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels which can also be used in parasitic pathogens of plants that Broomrapes ( spp.) are holoparasitic plants that subsist on the roots of a variety of agricultural crops and cause severe negative effects on the yield and yield quality of those crops. Effective methods for controlling parasitic weeds are scarce, with only a few known cases of genetic resistance.

Spatial Spread of the Root Parasitic Weed in Processing Tomatoes by Using Ecoinformatics and Spatial Analysis.

Egyptian broomrape () is one of the main threats to tomato production in Israel. The seed bank of rapidly develops and spreads in the field. Knowledge about the spatio-temporal distribution of such weeds is required in advance of emergence, as they emerge late in their life cycle when they have already caused major crop damage.

Phenylpyruvate Contributes to the Synthesis of Fragrant Benzenoid-Phenylpropanoids in × Flowers.

Phenylalanine (Phe) is a precursor for a large group of plant specialized metabolites, including the fragrant volatile benzenoid-phenylpropanoids (BPs). In plants, the main pathway leading to production of Phe is arogenate, while the pathway phenylpyruvate (PPY) is considered merely an alternative route. Unlike plants, in most microorganisms the only pathway leading to the synthesis of Phe is PPY.

The Effects of Herbicides Targeting Aromatic and Branched Chain Amino Acid Biosynthesis Support the Presence of Functional Pathways in Broomrape.

It is not clear why herbicides targeting aromatic and branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis successfully control broomrapes-obligate parasitic plants that obtain all of their nutritional requirements, including amino acids, from the host. Our objective was to reveal the mode of action of imazapic and glyphosate in controlling the broomrape and clarify if this obligatory parasite has its own machinery for the amino acids biosynthesis. callus was studied to exclude the indirect influence of the herbicides on the parasite through the host plant.