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Abstract Detail


Ecophysiology

Bolin, Jay F. [1], Tennakoon, Kushan U. [2], Musselman, Lytton John [1].

Stable isotope ratios and nutrient relationships of the water conservative root holoparasite Hydnora (Hydnoraceae) and hosts in southern Africa.

Hydnora is a genus of unusual holoparasitic plants with a mainly African distribution. All Hydnora species reside underground and lack stomata and leaves. Estimated transdermal water loss in Hydnora africana and Hydnora triceps rhizomes was 0.14±.02 and 0.19±.02 mg cm-2 hr-1, respectively. Due to its water conservative nature Hydnora may be a useful model for parasite-host uptake. We measured carbon and nitrogen natural abundance stable isotope ratios for 11 Hydnora -host associations in southern Africa, including host plants with dominantly CAM or C3 metabolisms. Hydnora-host isotope ratios were compared to 12 mistletoe-host associations, emphasizing relationships between host plants shared by Hydnora and mistletoes including Tapinanthus and Viscum species. Carbon and nitrogen isotope values for Hydnora are negatively correlated and carbon isotope ratios mirrored the host photosynthetic metabolism. For the first time we report mineral nutrition relationships for three holoparasite-CAM host associations. Total P and K levels were significantly elevated in the holoparasite relative to the host in most associations. Total Ca, Cl, Mg, N, Na, and S levels were significantly lower in the host.


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1 - Old Dominion University, Department of Biological Sciences, Mills Godwin Building, 45th Street, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529-0266, USA
2 - University of Peradeniya, Department of Botany, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka

Keywords:
Plant Parasite
stable isotope
Namibia
South Africa
holoparasite
Mineral nutrition.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: CP28
Location: Stevens 1/Hilton
Date: Tuesday, July 10th, 2007
Time: 9:30 AM
Number: CP28005
Abstract ID:1405


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