Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Five new hosts of the parasitic angiosperm Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Convolvulaceae) from Garbhanga Reserve Forest of Assam, India
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Research Articles | Published: 20 May, 2026
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Keywords: n Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Host diversity, Host-parasite interaction, Haustorial anatomy, Ecological implications, New host record
Abstract
Cuscuta is a genus of holoparasitic plants in the family Convolvulaceae and the tribe Ipomoeae, widely distributed across temperate and subtropical regions, comprising approximately 220 species worldwide, that are entirely dependent on host plants for survival, and several are known for their ecological, agricultural, and ethnomedicinal significance. The present study documents five new hosts of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. from Garbhanga Reserve Forest of Assam, including four hosts newly recorded for India, thereby expanding the known host range of the species in the region. Anatomical observations confirming host-parasite attachment through haustorial penetration are presented, along with photographic documentation of host plants habit, parasite twining behavior, and floral morphology of C. reflexa to facilitate accurate identification. The study provides broader ecological insights into host-parasite associations of C. reflexa within forest ecosystems and emphasizes the importance of safeguarding ecologically and economically valuable host plants from parasitic infestation, while simultaneously recognizing the need to conserve native Cuscuta species as integral components of forest biodiversity, thereby supporting long-term ecosystem stability in Garbhanga Reserve Forest.
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Department of Botany, Cotton University, Panbazar, Guwahati, India