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)从寄主植物获得营养，因此可能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。这项建议通过在三大洲的多样性热点地区进行实地研究，将重点放在鲜为人知的多样化热带寄生植物谱系上。形态和寄主偏好的变化将被记录下来，DNA序列数据将被用来评估进化关系。这个进化框架将被用来创建一个修订的分类系统，并研究寄生模式的转变，例如光合作用能力的丧失。这个项目调查了一种植物谱系，其中包括寄生在农作物上的寄生虫，每年造成价值数十亿美元的损失。引入独脚金对美国玉米作物的危害如此之大，以至于大多数热带寄生虫都被归类为有害杂草。然而，美国农业部的特工无法区分危险的寄生虫和无害的寄生虫。这个项目将提供一个重要的在线资源，帮助边境工作人员、农民和研究人员识别发生在任何地方的有毒寄生虫，无论是在进入美国的入境点还是在他们的本土范围内。

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.