Carbon isotope ratios demonstrate carbon flux from c(4) host to c(3) parasite

Abstract

Carbon isotope ratios of mature leaves from the C(3) angiosperm root hemiparasites Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth (-26.7 per thousand) and S. asiatica (L.) Kuntze (-25.6 per thousand) were more negative than their C(4) host, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench cv CSH1), (-13.5 per thousand). However, in young photosynthetically incompetent plants of S. hermonthica this difference was reduced to less than 1 per thousand. Differences between the carbon isotope ratios of two C(3)-C(3) associations, S. gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke-Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. and Oryza sativa L.-Rhamphicarpa fistulosa (Hochst.) Benth differed by less than 1 per thousand. Theoretical carbon isotope ratios for mature leaves of S. hermonthica and S. asiatica, calculated from foliar gas exchange measurements, were -31.8 and -32.0 per thousand, respectively. This difference between the measured and theoretical delta(13)C-values of 5 to 6 per thousand suggests that even in mature, photosynthetically active plants, there is substantial input of carbon from the C(4) host. We estimate this to be approximately 28% of the total carbon in S. hermonthica and 35% in S. asiatica. This level of carbon transfer contributes to the host's growth reductions observed in Striga-infected sorghum.