Collaborative Research, RUI: Systematic Investigation of Tropical Diversity in Orobanchaceae

寄生植物通过一个独特的器官（吸器）从寄主植物中获得营养，因此可能会对寄主的生存和繁殖成功产生负面影响。许多寄生虫完全依赖于它们的宿主，失去了通过光合作用制造自己食物的能力。这项建议的重点是通过在三大洲多样性热点地区进行实地研究，了解热带寄生植物的一个鲜为人知的多样性谱系。将记录形态学和宿主偏好的变化，并将使用DNA序列数据评估进化关系。 这一进化框架将被用于创建一个修订的分类系统，并调查寄生模式的转变，如光合能力的丧失。该项目调查了一个植物谱系，其中包括寄生虫侵染作物，每年造成数十亿美元的损失。独脚金（Striga asiatica）的引入对美国的玉米作物造成了如此严重的破坏，以至于大多数热带寄生虫被归类为有毒杂草。然而，美国农业部的工作人员没有办法区分危险的寄生虫和无害的寄生虫。该项目将提供一个重要的在线资源，以帮助边境人员，农民和研究人员识别有害寄生虫，无论它们发生在哪里，无论是在进入美国的入境点还是在它们的本土范围。

Parasitic plants obtain nutrients from host plants via a unique organ (the haustorium) and, thus, may negatively impact the survival and reproductive success of the host. Many parasites are completely dependent on their host, having lost the ability to make their own food through photosynthesis. This proposal focuses on a poorly known and diverse lineage of tropical parasitic plants through field studies in diversity hotspots on three continents. Variation in morphology and host preference will be documented and DNA sequence data will be used to assess evolutionary relationships. This evolutionary framework will be used to create a revised classification system and to investigate transitions in modes of parasitism, such as the loss of photosynthetic capability.This project investigates a plant lineage which includes parasites that infest crops, resulting in annual losses worth several billion $US. An introduction of witchweed (Striga asiatica) was so damaging to the US corn crop that most tropical parasites are classified as noxious weeds. However, USDA agents have no means of differentiating a dangerous parasite from a harmless one. This project will provide an important online resource to assist border agents, farmers, and researchers in identifying noxious parasites wherever they occur, whether at points of entry into the US or in their native ranges.