Targeted distribution of photo-assimilate in Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth parasitic on Sorghum bicolor L.
Résumé
Autotrophic photosynthesis in developing plants of Striga hermonthica, a C3 plant, parasitizing Sorghum bicolor a C4 plant, has been quantified by measuring the C-13/C-12 isotope ratio (delta C-13). This parameter has been determined in cellulose and chlorophyll extracted from plants 8 weeks after emergence. It is shown that these components are both proportionately high in autotrophic carbon in the leaf material, thus confirming the previous hypothesis that St. hermonthica photo-assimilate is directed primarily towards the synthesis of new photosynthetic capacity. (c) 2008 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.