Methods and Applications in Parasitic Plant Research

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Guest Editor

Luiza Teixeira-Costa

Harvard University Herbaria

Dr. Luiza Teixeira-Costa is a botanist broadly interested in morphological and evolutionary plant development, and in the interplay between structure and physiology. Her main area of expertise is parasitic flowering plants, such as mistletoes, dodders, and the Raffleciaceae family, which includes plants with the largest flowers in the world. Her research explores how these diverse species with unusual life cycles and developmental processes, interact with their host plants and the environment. She is also interested in science communication, and the historical aspects of urban trees and landscaping. Currently, she is a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard University Herbaria.

Collection Overview

Parasitic flowering plants represent 1% of all extant angiosperms, and exhibit a wide diversity of life histories, growth forms, and host interactions. Due to both their positive and negative impacts on ecological communities, parasitic plants are often recognized as keystone species and ecosystem engineers. These factors have transformed them into fascinating models for studying aspects of plant physiology, ecology, and development. However, the heavily modified biology and structures of these plants often requires researchers to adapt standard methods and create new approaches that are more suitable for parasitic plant research. In this context, this collection invites researchers to submit innovative methods and applications related to the multiple areas of Plant Science that converge into the study of parasitic plants. Contributions are expected from, but not limited to, developmental biology, ecology, evolution, physiology, and weed management.