Scientists reveal distribution and physiological role of plant sugars

Osaka, Japanese Striga (Striga spp.
) and Broomweed (Orobanche and Phelipanche spp.
) are root parasitic weeds that cause significant damage to agriculture worldwide
.

As obligate parasitic flowering plants in nature, they parasitize other agriculturally important autotrophic plants

According to Chris Parker's comment; based on rigorous sampling, there are currently no reliable global figures for the total area affected by Orobic or Striga
.

In the Mediterranean and West Asia, however, an estimated 16 million hectares are "under attack" by Orobanche

Parasitic weeds are obligate parasites that are difficult to control
.

One potential method of control is the use of growth regulators that target root parasitic weeds

Metabolism of plant sugars, a storage carbohydrate, is a possible target to control root parasitic weeds
.

In a previous study, Associate Professor Gunze Atsushi and his collaborators revealed the sensing of strigolactones (a plant that stimulates the growth of branching and symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) during the germination of Orobanche small seeds hormone), plant sugar metabolism is activated

In a recent study, a team of scientists from Osaka Prefectural University investigated the activity of alpha-galactosidases (AGALs) during the germination of small Orobanche seeds
.

They also investigated the distribution of plant sugars in dry seeds using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging

Plant sugars were found in the tissue surrounding the embryos, but not inside the embryos, suggesting that plant sugars may have a role in carbohydrate storage
.

Biochemical experiments and molecular identification of OmAGAL2, a member of the α-galactosidase family, showed that the enzyme participates in the hydrolysis of plant sugars in extraembryonic bodies after strigolactone is sensed, providing necessary hexoses for embryo germination

The acquired mass spectral images of the two fragment ions were nearly identical, indicating that these fragment ions were both derived from a single source, plant sugars
.

The authors also provide intuitive evidence that plant sugar is distributed in the endosperm, ectosperm, and seed coat of dried seeds of Orobanche (Fig.

Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that: (1) phytosugars are distributed in the small dry seeds of Orobanche, and their physiological roles are difficult to determine; (2) phytosugars play an important role in sensing Striga during the germination of root parasitic weed seeds.
Rapid hydrolysis after lactones (SLs); endosperm, ectosperm and seed coat function as nutrient supply in root parasitic weeds
.

In addition, the novelty of this study is that, for the first time, the authors visualize the distribution of stored carbohydrates (plant sugars) in the seeds of a root-parasitic weed
.