- Author: Pershang Hosseini
- Author: Tong Zhen
- Author: Matthew Fatino
- Author: Brad Hanson
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Broomrapes (Orobanche and Phelipanche spp.) are obligate plant parasites with a broad range of agricultural crop hosts. In non-parasitic plant species, seeds generally initiate germination when exposed to favorable conditions of temperature, humidity, oxygen, and, occasionally, light. However, for obligate parasitic plants like broomrapes, a chemical signal from the host plant is essential. Germination of broomrape can only occur under appropriate soil conditions and when the seed receives a strigolactone chemical signal released from the roots of a suitable host. Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived hormones that play a crucial role in various aspects of plant growth and development. Fertilizers can regulate...
- Author: Bradley Hanson
A group of crop pest management and food safety researchers across the U.S. is currently gathering grower and ag industry information on field equipment sanitation practices with the ultimate goal of designing research to address needs of the agricultural industry and consumers.
My interest in California is largely driven by concerns about spreading seeds of the CDFA "A-list" parasitic weeds branched broomrape and related species in processing tomato, a topic with lots of current research. However, the risks of moving new pests around on field...
- Posted by: Gale Perez
From the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) Graduate Student Organization newsletter (Oct. 2023)
* * * * * *
Graduate Student of the Month
Matthew (Matt) Fatino, Ph.D. Candidate with the Hanson Lab at UC Davis, is the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) graduate student of the month.
What is your long-term goal?
My long-term goal is to land a career in industry or the public sector that enables me to work with growers and stakeholders and help address the issues they face. I have been fortunate to...
- Author: Emily Dooley
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Hanson and team battle invasive species
At first glance, Orobanche ramosa looks like an interesting blossoming plant, one that could add a unique flair to flower arrangements. But it's a parasitic weed that attaches to roots, sucks out nutrients and is threatening California's $1.5 billion processing tomato industry.
The weed's tiny seeds — smaller than finely ground pepper — can survive in soil for many decades and be carried by wind, water, soil transfers and even footwear. If found attached to crop plants and reported to the state, farmers are required to destroy the field before harvest, taking large losses not covered by...
/h2>- Author: Pershang Hosseini
- Author: Alison Colwell
- Author: Bradley Hanson
- Posted by: Gale Perez
The Orobanchaceae family comprises 270 holoparasitic species that cannot photosynthesize. Instead, they rely entirely on the host plant roots for nutrition, and can produce great numbers of minute, dust-like seeds that last for years in the soil. This family contains some of the most serious agricultural parasites in the genera of Phelipanche and Orobanche some of which are present in California. The different species can be distinguished by the degree of branching of their stems and presence/absence of bracteoles at the base of the flower Orobanche species have unbranched stems and no bracteoles, while Phelipanche species feature branched stems with bracteoles. In this paper, we discuss three...