Isotopic labeling as a verification strategy for substance sharing between parasitic plants and their hosts

• Grant number: 24/05530-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Pecoraro Demarque
• Grantee: Heloisa Sarti Dantas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/08191-9 - Assessing the secondary metabolites occurrence in parasitic plants and hosts, AP.JP

Abstract

The project aims to investigate the transfer of substances between parasitic plants and their hosts using isotopic labeling techniques. Focusing on the complex relationship between parasitic species and their hosts, the study employs the insertion of 13C-labeled glucose and synthetic molecules of various polarities into the tissues of the host plants to track the movement of these compounds to the parasitic plants. This approach seeks to unravel the mechanisms of nutrient and other chemical substance transfer through the haustorium, a structure that physically connects the parasite to its host, thus allowing for a deeper understanding of the survival dynamics of these parasitic plants. The project aims to significantly contribute to the knowledge of parasite-host interactions, paving the way for new strategies for the management and control of parasitic plants in agricultural and natural ecosystems.