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16 pages, 360 KiB

Open AccessReview

Managing Root Parasitic Weeds to Facilitate Legume Reintroduction into Mediterranean Rain-Fed Farming Systems

by Diego Rubiales

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(4), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040099 - 1 Nov 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2863

Grain and forage legumes are important sources of food and feed, key for sustainable agriculture given the environmental services they provide. However, their cultivation is hampered in the Mediterranean Basin and Near East by the widespread occurrence of the root parasitic weed crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata). Other broomrape species such as O. minor, O. foetida, and Phelipanche aegyptica are also of local importance. As for other parasitic weeds, a number of management strategies have been proposed, but considering that temperate legumes in the area are low-input crops, these strategies are largely uneconomical or hard to achieve, leaving the use of resistant cultivars as the most desirable option. Breeding for broomrape resistance is not an easy task, but significant progress has been achieved by classical breeding and selection and will profit from recent developments in phenomics and genomics. Here, achievements and prospects in broomrape management and resistance breeding are presented and critically discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)

15 pages, 1919 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Structure and Diversity Analysis of Tunisian Orobanche spp. and Phelipanche spp. Using Molecular Markers

by Khalil Khamassi, Zouhaier Abbes, Eleni Tani, Anastasios Katsileros, Karim Guenni, Mustapha Rouissi, Sahari Khoufi, Ramzi Chaabane, Demosthenis Chachalis and Mohamed Kharrat

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(21), 11622; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132111622 - 24 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1804

Abstract

Broomrapes (Orobanche and Phelipanche spp.) are non-achlorophyllous parasitic plants belonging to the Orobanchaceae family, with some species evolving to infest agricultural crops, causing substantial economic losses. This study focuses on Orobanche and Phelipenche species prevalent in Tunisia, particularly Orobanche crenata, Orobanche foetida and Phelipanche ramosa, which pose a significant threat to legume crops and other agronomically important plants. These parasitic species cause severe damage before their aboveground appearance, making early detection and management crucial. Successful breeding programs targeting their hosts necessitate a comprehensive understanding of the genetic variability within different broomrape populations. A plethora of molecular markers, including RAPD, ISSR, AFLP, SSR and SNPs, were employed to evaluate the genetic diversity of Orobanche spp., mainly in Mediterranean countries. This research seeks to analyze the genetic variability and structure of thirty-four (34) Tunisian Orobanche and Phelipanche populations infesting various crops and wild plants. The results demonstrated a higher genetic differentiation within populations rather than between populations and no clear differentiation based on the geographic origins of the populations. By measuring the genetic diversity of a large number of broomrape populations that affect both wild species and crops, this study aims to support efforts toward establishing effective management approaches. Full article

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10 pages, 642 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unveiling Fatty Acid Profiles of the Parasitic Plants Orobanche foetida Poiret. and Orobanche crenata Forsk. and Modulation of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Fatty Acid Composition in Response to Orobanche Infestation

by Amal Bouallegue, Siwar Thebti, Faouzi Horchani, Taoufik Hosni, Issam Nouairi, Haythem Mhadhbi, Najla Trabelsi, Moez Amri, Mohamed Kharrat and Zouhaier Abbes

Plants 2023, 12(20), 3578; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203578 - 15 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1602

Abstract

Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) are root parasitic plants that threaten agricultural production in many parts of the world. In this study, the effect of two orobanche species, Orobanche crenata and O. foetida, on faba bean plants was studied in Tunisia. The two orobanche species inhibited both biomass production and pod formation, decreased the chlorophyll (Chl) content and total lipid (TL), and enhanced electrolyte leakage (EL) and lipid peroxidation. Concomitantly, orobanche parasitism induced a lower degree of fatty acid (FA) unsaturation due to a shift in the FA composition. On the other hand, with regard to orobanche seeds, oleic and linoleic acids were the predominant FA in the two orobanche species. After orobanche seed germination and penetration of host tissues, all the orobanche development stages showed a decrease in the TL content and changes in the FA composition in comparison to orobanche seeds. The level of TL was equal to or lower in all parasite development stages (except for S4) than that in the roots and leaves of healthy faba bean plants. These results suggest that the negative effect of orobanche infestation on faba bean development can be attributed to the reduced chlorophyll content and alteration in membrane stability attested by the reduced TL level and FA unsaturation. Full article

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