title: Host differentiation and variability of Orobanche crenata populations from legume species in Morocco as revealed by cross-infestation and molecular analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Orobanche crenata represents a major biotic constraint to production of faba bean and lentil in Morocco. While this parasitic plant attacks both of these crops, the extent to which Orobanche biotypes specialise in parasitising specific crops is unknown. To address this question, we studied O. crenata that grew on different hosts and quantified their host specificity to faba bean and lentil. The virulence of O. crenata populations on each host was investigated through field trials, pot and Petri dishes assays. Genetic diversity of the parasite populations was also assessed through molecular analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two legume species showed distinct patterns of specificity. Faba bean was more susceptible to both O. crenata populations, while the specificity for lentil by lentil-grown O. crenata was evident at the final stage of the parasite life cycle as shown by correspondence factorial analyses. Considerable internal variation (81%) within O. crenata populations parasitising both legume species was observed by molecular analyses, but significant divergence (19%; Ø = 0.189; P = 0.010) among the populations was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that O. crenata can adapt to specific host species, which is important knowledge when developing integrated pest management practices for parasitic weed control. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Biotechnology Unit, CRRA-Rabat, Morocco.|Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II (IAV), Plant Biotechnology Department, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Mounia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ennami
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Biotechnology Unit, CRRA-Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Fatima Zahra
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Briache
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Biotechnology Unit, CRRA-Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaboun
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Biotechnology Unit, CRRA-Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Rabha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdelwahd
authors.affiliation: Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II (IAV), Plant Biotechnology Department, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Lamiae
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghaouti
authors.affiliation: Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II (IAV), Plant Biotechnology Department, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Loubna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belqadi
authors.affiliation: Virginia Tech, Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Westwood
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Biotechnology Unit, CRRA-Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mentag
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000469:parasitology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D058507:Host Specificity; D009018:Morocco; D031672:Orobanche / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D058728:Weed Control
keywords: Lens culinaris; Orobanche crenata; Vicia faba; cross-infestations; genetic diversity; host specificity