LetgenPro|Real Time PCR Kit 300 rxn (Cuscuta sp.)

Cuscuta, commonly known as dodder, is a parasitic plant characterized by its leafless, slender stems. Originating from various parts of the world, it has spread widely. From mid-summer to early autumn, it produces small, pea-sized fruit matching the vine’s color. Dodder has minimal chlorophyll, and while some species can perform slight photosynthesis, others like C. europaea depend entirely on host plants for nutrition. The flowers range in colors and bloom at different times depending on the species. Its seeds, small and robust, can survive in the soil for 5–10 years. It can parasitize a wide variety of plants, including agricultural and horticultural crops such as alfalfa, potatoes, and petunias, severely impacting their yield. By debilitating the host plant, dodder weakens the plant’s resistance to viral diseases and can also spread plant diseases from one host to another if attached to more than one plant.