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Germination of the seeds of parasitic angiosperms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

D. C. Logan  and
G. R. Stewart
D. C. Logan*
Affiliation:
Striga Research Group, Department of Biology (Darwin Bldg), University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
G. R. Stewart
Affiliation:
Striga Research Group, Department of Biology (Darwin Bldg), University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
*
* Correspondence and present address Department of Physiology, Horticulture Research International, East Malling, West Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK
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Abstract

Totalling more than 3000 species, parasitic angiosperms are a most diverse group of organisms. Classified as either shoot or root parasites according to site of attachment, plant parasites are further classified, according to the degree of parasitism, into one of two divisions: holoparasitic or hemiparasitic. Within these divisions, angiosperm parasites are either obligate or facultative.

Obligate parasites cannot survive to maturity without attaching to a host plant, thus the need to germinate in close proximity to a host first characterizes the specialized germination and seed dispersal strategies of these plants. However, seeds of all species of the rootholoparasitic Orobanchaceae and four genera within the Scrophulariaceae have evolved very specialized germination strategies. Once the seeds have undergone an after-ripening period, they require a prolonged imbibition period at temperatures of approx. 30°C before they acquire the potential to germinate. Minute seeds with very little reserves, they must germinate within millimetres of the host root for successful host attachment and continued survival. To this end, germination only occurs in responseto specific chemical germination triggers released from the host root. In Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth., the perception of the host-derived trigger results in stimulation of endogenous ethylene production and it is this ethylene that initiates germination. It is proposed that the chemical triggers released from the host be consideredas ‘elicitors’ which function primarily as allelochemicals and that the parasite seeds have become adapted in such a way as to have an absolute requirement for external germination triggers.

Keywords

StrigaOrobancheethyleneallelochemicals
Type
Invited Review
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 2 , Issue 4 , December 1992 , pp. 179 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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Footnotes

†

Present address Department of Botany, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane Qld, Australia 4067

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