Anatomy, Embryology and Life Cycle of Lophophytum, a Root-Holoparasitic Plant

ANA M. GONZALEZ; SATO, HECTOR A.

Parasitic Plant

Intech Open

Año: 2022; p. 1 - 22

The most extreme manifestation of parasitism occurs in holoparasites,plants that are totally achlorophyllous. Among them, the genus Lophophytum(Balanophoraceae) is characterized by an aberrant vegetative body called a tuber,devoid of stems and leaves. The genus is exclusively South American, comprisingfive taxa, which parasitize the roots of trees or shrubs. This review focuses on theArgentine species of the genus: L. leandri and L. mirabile subsp. bolivianum. Topicscovered include: morphology and anatomy of the vegetative body and host?parasiteconnection; structure, anatomy and development of the staminate and pistillateflowers; sporogenesis and gametogenesis, embryo sac inversion; endospermogenesis,embryogenesis and fruit development. The evolutionary trend in thegynoecium and embryo sac of the Balanophoraceae is also discussed to reflect thevariability. Finally, observations were made on the synchronization of the life cyclesof the parasites and hosts to infer possible ways by which parasitism has evolved,until now unknown.