Performance of a parasitic plant and its effects on hosts depends on the interactions between parasite seed family and host species.

ABSTRACT: Root hemiparasitic plants act as keystone species influencing plant community composition through their differential suppression of host species. Their own performance also strongly depends on interactions with host species. However, little is known about the roles of parasite genetic variation vs. plasticity in these interactions. We grew plants from eight maternal families of the root hemiparasite Rhinanthus alectorolophus with six potential host species (two grasses, two legumes and two forbs) and without a host and measured fitness-related and morphological traits of the parasite, host biomass and overall productivity. Parasite biomass and other traits showed strong plastic variation in response to different host species, but were also affected by parasite maternal family. Paras

SUBMITTER: Moncalvillo B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9893871 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature