Taxonomic Analysis and Host Preference of Tea Mistletoe [Scurrula atropurpurea (Blume) Danser], a Hemiparasitic Species
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31154/isc12.v12i6.45.1241-1260Keywords:
hemiparasitism, taxonomy, host plants, spatial analysis, distributionAbstract
Parasitic and hemiparasitic infections of crops inhibit water and nutrient uptake, cause severe yield reductions, and eventually host tree death. This infection significantly reduces fruit harvests and eventually leads to economic losses, which threaten the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and commercial orchard growers. This study focused on Scurrula atropurpurea (Blume) Danser, a woody hemiparasitic mistletoe found in Asia that parasitizes host plants for water and nutrients. In this study, S. atropurpurea and its host plants were taxonomically identified, and their distribution at the Adventist University of the Philippines was assessed. The host plants of S. atropurpurea were identified as Avocado (Persea americana), Acacia (Samanea saman), Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), Paper Tree (Gmelina arborea), and Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa), all belonging to the class Magnoliopsida. These hosts share key traits, such as well-developed vascular tissues, making them suitable for the hemiparasitic plant to attach, penetrate, and grow for long-term survival. The findings revealed a moderate level of infection, with 40% of the 35 trees infected. Dye uptake using safranin dye demonstrated xylem connectivity between the host and the mistletoe, highlighting the parasitic nature of the relationship between the hemiparasite and the host. Understanding hemiparasite-host interactions can aid in managing parasitic plants in natural and agricultural systems.
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