Haustorial Connections Research Articles

PARASITISM IN PHOLISMA (LENNOACEAE). I. EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY OF SUBTERRANEAN ORGANS

The external features of the subterranean organs of coastal Californian Pholisma depressum Greene are described. A dimorphic root system exists. Long, stout roots (pilot roots) serve for vegetative propagation in reaching other host roots. Short, unbranching, more slender roots originating from the pilot roots are haustorial in function. Shoots seem to arise only on pilot roots. Host attachment is achieved through the direct transformation of the apical meristem of haustorial roots into the haustorial organ. The basal part of the shoot is also able to produce roots when near host roots, and may form lateral branch shoots either directly or after new haustorial connections are formed. Both types of roots arise endogenously. The invaded host root undergoes considerable hypertrophy. The intrusive organ itself forms a massive but irregular body. More than one haustorial root may enter even a small host root. Self parasitism may occur but is not common.

Parasitism in Pholisma (Lennoaceae). I. External Morphology of Subterranean Organs

The external features of the subterranean organs of coastal Californian Pholisma depressum Greene are described. A dimorphic root system exists. Long, stout roots (pilot roots) serve for vegetative propagation in reaching other host roots. Short, unbranching, more slender roots originating from the pilot roots are haustorial in function. Shoots seem to arise only on pilot roots. Host attachment is achieved through the direct transformation of the apical meristem of haustorial roots into the haustorial organ. The basal part of the shoot is also able to produce roots when near host roots, and may form lateral branch shoots either directly or after new haustorial connections are formed. Both types of roots arise endogenously. The invaded host root undergoes considerable hypertrophy. The intrusive organ itself forms a massive but irregular body. More than one haustorial root may enter even a small host root. Self parasitism may occur but is not common.

MODE OF ATTACHMENT, HAUSTORIUM STRUCTURE, AND HOSTS OF PEDICULARIS CANADENSIS

Piehl, Martin A. (Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, Calif.) Mode of attachment, haustorium structure, and hosts of Pedicularis canadensis. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(10): 978–985. Illus. 1963.—Although long known for European members of the genus, parasitism is documented for the first time for the North American Pedicularis canadensis (Scrophulariaceae) from observations made in the field. Every stand examined showed evidence for parasitism, the haustorial connections being established in the seedling stage. The haustoria, which vary somewhat morphologically, produce direct connection between the xylem of the host and that of the parasite. The great diversity of hosts, involving 80 species from 35 families, suggests that connections may be made to essentially any vascular plant with subterranean parts in proximity to those of the parasite, although some species are parasitized much more frequently than others. In addition, haustorial attachments were found to dead parts of vascular plants and, in single instances, to a fungus and small pebbles. Intraspecific parasitism has also been observed.