How parasitic plants can avoid self-attack

Abstract

We spotlight recent findings from a Science paper that provide molecular insights into how parasitic plants avoid inducing haustorium development in their own or closely related species. A uridine diphosphate-dependent glucosyltransferase (UGT72B1) is identified to inactivate endogenous phenolic haustorium-inducing factors (HIFs) through glucosylation, preventing self-induction and thereby enabling kin avoidance. This study proposes a new approach to controlling parasitic plants by manipulating the biosynthesis or glucosylation of HIFs in crops, or by designing inhibitors to block glucosyltransferase function in parasitic plants.