Posted on 08/17/2014 6:38:27 AM PDT by shove_it
Scientists have discovered what seems like a new form of plant communication between a "vampire" plant and its prey. As described in a study recently published in the journal Science, weed science expert Jim Westwood of Virginia Tech took a close look at how the parasitic plant called a dodder attacks his host. Westwood specifically looked at how the dodder interacted with two host plants, Arabidopsis and tomatoes. It has long been known that dodders are "vampire-like" parasitic plants. Like a nightmare from an alien horror film, the dodder wraps itself around its host. It then uses a long probe to literally tap into its victim and drain their fluids.
Researchers had done previous work that found that when the dodder first sinks its "fang" into its victim, it also begins to transport RNA - a sort-of DNA translator - between it and its host. This latest study expands on that, finding that a surprising amount of messenger RNA (mRNA) is constantly being exchanged between both plants during the parasitic relationship. "The discovery of this novel form of inter-organism communication shows that this is happening a lot more than any one has previously realized," Westwood said in a recent release. "Now that we have found that they are sharing all this information, the next question is, 'What exactly are they telling each other?'"
(Excerpt) Read more at natureworldnews.com ...
“You will be assimilated”
Dodder looks like leftover spaghetti noodiles draped over a plant. Ugly and creepy. Not surprised it has nefarious things going on inside.
Ewww.
Bah, the plant is not Evil.
ITs just doing what it was created/ designed to do.
Interesting how it works though,
We had better hope dodder never meets up with kudzu
We would be doomed
Oh yah? Try telling that to my ixora plants. I don't have this particular parasite but there is a similar leafy vine that tries to strangle my flowering bushes in a similar manner if I don't don't fight back.
“Resistance is futile!”
It is really inhumane to eat these plants that may be begging for their lives. Liberals should really find some food source other than meat or plants. Maybe they could just exist by breathing in their extreme enlightenment and social awareness.
We would be doomed
You know Monsanto holds that hybrid patent, right?
ping
In Southern California, along the back roads, huge piles of long orange-y strands drape across some bushes. Not delicate threads like what you posted. I guess there are probably different varieties in different regions.
You're right, it's Cuscuta Californica, which is a species of dodder (the evil plant that's the subject of the article). When we were kids, we used to call it carrots, because it looked exactly like shredded carrot to us.
Thanks for posting the picture.
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