The secret behind witchweed’s devastating ability to steal nutrients from crops
Commonly known as ‘witchweed,’ the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica devastates crops in sub-Saharan Africa. Scientists have discovered a unique protein in Striga that helps sustain its high transpiration. Striga uses transpiration to effectively steal water and nutrients from its hosts, so this protein could provide a new target for controlling Striga. …read more
