| 研究実績の概要 |
In the last year I was successfully able to quantify carbon flux between the alfalfa host and the hemiparasite using 13CO2. This flux was probably around 30%, and seemed to be dependent on the host and parasite nutrient status, although experiments this year will improve our understanding of the system. It was also noted that when nutrients were withdrawn, parasites could only grow if they were connected to a host plant - this is unique in the published literature, and we believe it is a major result.
I was also able to demonstrate an upregulation in host clover photosynthesis as a result of parasitism by the hemiparasite Phtheirospermum japonicum, but not Orobanche minor. These are notable results, although require further improvement before publication. This suggests that many plants may have a higher capacity for photosynthesis than used under normal circumstance. We noted that although no apparent growth gains could be found under normal conditions, parasites were able to maintain growth under N-starvation conditions in the presence of a host, but not when grown alone. In the N-starved conditions, the parasite loses its chlorophyll, suggesting that the C for growth is parasitically derived. We have developed new equipment to allow us to fully demonstrate this unique phenomenon. The
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| 現在までの達成度 (区分) |
現在までの達成度 (区分)
3: やや遅れている
理由
Although good results have been generated, we want to further improve our methodology to aim for a better journal. We could successfully show C transfer between the host and the parasite, but we want to be able to determine whether N is also transferred, and investigate other factors, such as differential growth or the importance of other nutrients. We have redesigned our experimental equipment to be able to deal with these demands.
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