Interactions between the Root Hemiparasite Melampyrum arvense and Mixtures of Host Plants: Heterotrophic Benefit and Parasite-Mediated Competition

• DOI: 10.2307/3546328
• Publication Date: 2006-11-16T13:19:03Z
• Authors: Diethart Matthies
• Keywords: Parasitic plant; Medicago sativa; Haustorium; Obligate parasite

Root hemiparasitic plants frequently establish haustorial connections simultaneously to several host species, which may differ in the quality of their contribution nutrition parasite and sensitivity parasitic attack. The obligate hemiparasite Melampyrum arvense was grown with three species (Lolium perenne, Medicago sativa Linum usitatissimum) all possible binary mixtures test whether (1) a mixed supply (e.g. legume grass) results an increase heterotrophic benefit (2) influence competitive balance between hosts. Growth M. much stronger (M. sativa) as than two non-leguminous species. biomass parasites not higher that separately. Thus, do support hypothesis hemiparasites from supply. rank order terms > L. usitatissimum perenne) same damage suffered hemiparasite. Host individual pots were also negatively correlated. In influenced hosts, because reduced growth more strongly other Overall productivity per pot (hosts + hemiparasite) by arvense, did fully compensate for reduction caused parasitism.