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AOBPreview published online on September 28, 2006
Annals of Botany, doi:10.1093/aob/mcl218
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Received June 26, 2006
Revised July 24, 2006
Accepted August 16, 2006

Article

Differential Resistance among Host and Non-host Species Underlies the Variable Success of the Hemi-parasitic Plant Rhinanthus minor

DUNCAN D. CAMERON 1 *, ALISON M. COATS 2, and WENDY E. SEEL 1

1 School of Biological Science (Plant and Soil Science), University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK
2 Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Meston Walk, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
DUNCAN D. CAMERON, E-mail: d.cameron{at}sheffield.ac.uk


  Abstract

• Background and Aims Rhinanthus minor is a root hemiparasitic plant that attacks a wide range of host species which are severely damaged by the parasite. Rhinanthus minor also attempts unsuccessfully to form connections to a range of non-hosts which in contrast are not damaged by the parasite; however, the underlying physiological basis of these differences is not fully understood.

• Methods Biomass of host-parasite combinations was studied, and histology, electron microscopy and FT-IR microspectroscopy were used to determine the cellular-level interactions between Rhinanthus haustoria (the parasite's connective structure) and the roots of a range of potential host species.

• Results Two distinct defence responses were observed in the non-host forbs Plantago lanceolata and Leucanthemum vulgare. Firstly, L. vulgare was able to encapsulate the parasite's invading structures preventing it from gaining access to the stele. This was supported by FT-IR microspectroscopy, used to monitor lignification in response to Rhinanthus haustoria. Secondly, host cell fragmentation was observed at the interface between the parasite and P. lanceolata. Growth data confirmed the non-host status of the two forbs whilst, in contrast, grasses and a legume which were good hosts showed no evidence of defence at the host/parasite interface.

• Conclusions Variable resistance to Rhinanthus is shown for the first time to be controlled by cellular-level resistance to haustoria by either cell fragmentation or lignification at the host/parasite interface.

Keywords: Parasitic plant, Rhinanthus minor (yellow rattle), resistance, host defence, FITR spectroscopy, histology, electron microscopy.
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