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Abstract
ABSTRACT Though they comprise 1 % of plant species on the planet, plant parasites are poorly known. They have been considered a threat to cultivated plants and to the conservation of host species in natural areas. Due to the complex interactions they have with their hosts, understanding their biology is fundamental to the development of conservation strategies for both parasite species and their hosts. We sampled two populations of the root parasite Scybalium fungiforme (Balanophoraceae) in seasonal tropical forest fragments to identify its host species and their functional attributes. Among the hosts, Croton floribundus seems to be preferred (68 % of parasitized plants), while four liana species were complementary hosts (32 %). Host species preference differed sharply among fragments and seems to be related to the successional stage of these forests. The hosts C. floribundus and the four liana species are perennial, fast growing and have large vessels, all of which are attributes that enable high water and nutrient acquisition efficiency. Despite a lack of clear host specificity at the species level, functional convergence among parasitized species suggests that host specificity is mediated by functional traits.
Highlights
Most parasitic plant species are angiosperms, among which parasitism has evolved independently
We aimed to identify the host plants parasitized by Scybalium fungiforme in two remnants of seasonal tropical forest in order to assess the occurrence of host specificity for this species
Scybalium fungiforme Schott & Endl. (Balanophoraceae), known popularly in Brazil as “cogumelo-de-caboclo”, is an herbaceous plant and root holoparasite, whose Latin denomination reflects the morphology of its inflorescence, which resembles a pink to vinaceous fungus emerging from the ground
Summary
Most parasitic plant species are angiosperms, among which parasitism has evolved independently Plants from this functional group (Těšitel 2016) have been reported as regulators in plant communities, having a key role in the maintenance of biodiversity (Windsor 1995; Durden & Keirans 1996). These plants occur in natural and managed ecosystems and comprise more than 4500 species and 268 genera, belonging to 22 botanical families and representing about 1 % of the world plant species (Press & Phoenix 2005; Nickrent 2008). The strategic mechanisms of resource acquisition and absorption by parasitic plants are still poorly
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