Dodder, Cuscuta

Lein, m. flax linseed, -dotter,/. gold-of-pleas-ure, dodder seed (Camelina sativa, the seeds of which yield an oil) sometimes, dodder (Cuscuta). -dotterfil, n. cameline oil. 

Haidar MA, Iskandarani N, Sidahmed M, Baalbaki R (1999) Response of field dodder (Cuscuta campestris) seeds to soil solarization and chicken manure. Crop Prot 18 253-258. doi 10.1016/... 

Allelopathy found hopeful utilization in plant protection against parasite weeds. The main world parasitic species are the witchweeds (Striga spp.), broomrapes (Orobanche spp.), and eventually dodder (Cuscuta spp.). Witchweeds and broom-rapes attack many economically important crops especially throughout the semi-arid regions. Early detection of parasitic weed infestation and protection is difficult because of the growth habit of a root parasite and huge production of dust-like seeds viable up to 20 years (Kebreab and Murdoch 1999). 

Trap crops or so-called false hosts are crops able to stimulate parasite seed germination but are not themselves parasitized. Each trap crop control at least one species but not all genus species. (Abebe et al. 2005). Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) infestation can be effectively reduced by growing cereals or other grass crops (false hosts) continuously for several years (Dawson 1987). Other examples of suitable trap and catch crops are given in the Table 14.3. 

Diquat is used for general aquatic weed control, as a non-crop weed-killer for defoliation (preharvest top killer), for seed-crop desiccation and for the control of dodder (Cuscuta). 

The subcellular location of the activities of choline kinase and ethanolamine kinase have not been definitely determined. The study of choline kinase from dodder (Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.) indicated that the activity was primarily mitochondrial (Setty and Krishnan, 1972). On the other hand experiments on spinach leaves showed choline kinase and ethanolamine kinase activities to be cytoplasmic (Macher and Mudd, 1976). Lord et al. (1972), Johnson and Kende (1971), and Morre et al. (1970) all found choline kinase to be cytoplasmically located. 

Certain parasitic plants, species of dodders (Cuscuta spp.), synthesize carotenoids, and plant tissue cultures of carrot tissue have been found to contain carotenoids (Goodwin, 1976). 

Cuscuta australis R. Brown Dou Tu Si (Dodder) (seed, aerial part) Carotenoids, alpha-carotene-5, 6-epoxide, taraxanthin, lutein.48 For fever, constipation, diuretic. 

Cuscuta chinensis Lam. C. eumpaea L. C. japonica Choisy C. lupuliformis Krocker Tu Si Zi (Dodder) (seed) Cuscutalin, bergenin, cuscutin, amarbelin, cholesterol, campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, beta-amyrin.48 Improve immunity, increase blood sugar metabolism. 

Colletotrlchum nloeosporioides (Penz.) Sacc. f.sp. cuscutae, Alternaria sp. Cuscuta spp. (dodders) 11 118. 119... 

Guo et al. reported the isolation of picrotoxanes from Cuscuta japonica (Japanese dodder), a parasitic vine of many shrubs, growing in China, Korea, and Japan (41). This was the first report of a picrotoxane detected within the Asterid subclass of the core eudicots. The picrotoxanes of this member of the Convolvulaceae are also found as constituents of Coriaria species. As this plant is a parasite, it is possible that the picrotoxanes present were received from the sap of its host. 

Cuscuta japonica Choisy SCN Japanese dodder PN tu si zi (seed)... 

Plate lOd Cuscuta australis (dodder) annual parasitic vine with (due to carotenoids) yellowish herbaceous stems twining around the host plants attached to them by haustoria found from S-Europe/Africa to Australia Sects. 3.1/ 3.3 / 3.4 / 3.5 / 7.12.2.1/8.3.1.2/8.3.3... 

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