Growth and development of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. and its impact on selected crops

The growth and development of Cuscuta chinensis Lam., and the effects of the holoparasite on the growth and yield of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ), chilli ( Capsicum annuum ) and rice ( Oryza sativa ) were investigated in pot experiments under glasshouse conditions. 'Mature' and 'immature' seeds of C. chinensis showed 15 and 47% germination, respectively. The independent life duration of seedlings from 'immature' seeds was 6 days shorter than 'mature' seeds (19 days). Cuscuta chinensis formed haustoria on chilli and tomato, but not on rice seedlings. Infection with three C. chinensis seedlings per host plant reduced leaf area, dry weight, carbon and nitrogen content by 78–84% and 27–44% in tomato and chilli plants, respectively. Dry weight of C. chinensis was 0.63 g per pot in tomato, and 0.24 g per pot in chilli. Carbon and nitrogen content of C. chinensis was 0.189 and 0.028 g per pot, respectively, when grown with tomato. When it was grown with chilli, the carbon and nitrogen content of C. chinensis was 0.001 and 0.007 g per pot, respectively. Cuscuta chinensis reduced the fruit yield of tomato and chilli by 72 and 29%, respectively. The results indicated that tomato is a preferred host of C. chinensis compared with chilli, and rice is not preferred. In the host–parasite associations, C. chinensis suppressed growth and yield of chilli and tomato by diverting the elaborated products of metabolism of the hosts.