Impact of Cuscuta australis infection on the photosynthesis of the invasive host, Mikania micrantha, under drought condition

摘要: Cuscuta species (dodders) are widespread stem holoparasites that depend on host plants for their entire mineral and water most carbohydrate requirements. Dodders negatively affect photosynthesis but precise information impact hosts in the presence of environmental stress factors (i.e. drought) is little known. In a pot experiment, leaf traits, gas exchange chlorophyll fluorescence invasive climber, Mikania micrantha, parasitized by australis, were investigated order to study variations response parasitism drought. The results showed concomitant C. australis infection drought significantly impacted traits increased dry mass content), decreased stomatal conductance transpiration rates water-use efficiency) quantum yield M. micrantha. single factor (C. australis or drought), however, only affected These suggested combined additive effects suppressed M. micrantha relation both non-stomatal limitation photosynthesis. This provides insights into Cuscuta–host interactions under conditions tropics.