Uncovering how parasitic plants avoid attacking themselves to improve crop resistance

Uncovering how parasitic plants avoid attacking themselves to improve crop resistance

Ikoma, Japan—Parasitic plants are notorious agricultural pests that drain nutrients from crops and cause economic losses of more than USD 1 billion due to yield losses every year. Yet these plants almost never attack themselves or closely related plants. Scientists have long suspected that parasitic plants can recognize “kin,” but the molecular basis for this self-protection has remained unclear. Now, a team of researchers at the Nara Institute …