1. Identifying host plants of Hyobanche L. (Orobanchaceae) by DNA sequencing of host root tissue Andrea D. Wolfe and Nidia Arguedas The Ohio State University

2. Background on Hyobanche Small genus of holoparasitic plants endemic to southern Africa –Eight species described as of 1996 One not seen in herbarium collections; three to be submerged into one spp –Another seven to be described Host plants noted on herbarium sheets –Asteraceae, Ericaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Poaceae, Restionaceae, Sterculiaceae, Thymelaeaceae

5. sp. nov.sp. interm. sanguineaatropurpurea.

8. Background on Hyobanche Small genus of holoparasitic plants endemic to southern Africa –Eight species described as of 1996 One not seen in herbarium collections; three to be submerged into one spp –Another seven to be described Host plants noted on herbarium sheets –Asteraceae, Ericaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Poaceae, Restionaceae, Sterculiaceae, Thymelaeaceae

9. Usually based on proximity... which may or may not have anything to do with the actual host plant!

10. Rhizomes of Hyobanche may be several meters long, and host roots are attached along the length of the rhizome on specialized haustoria from leaf bracts.

11. Haustorial connections are generally fragile, which makes tracing the host-parasite attachment difficult.

12. Fynbos

13. Coastal habitats

14. Karoo

15. High Veld

16. Methods Excavate rhizome system of Hyobanche Collect roots attached via haustorial connections Collect leaf tissue of plants in vicinity Sequence ITS and rbcL from roots and leaves –Matching sequence infers host of Hyobanche

23. Conclusions DNA “fingerprinting” approach works well for identifying hosts of Hyobanche –Positive identifications made for every population sampled Host range of coastal populations primarily in Asteraceae –Also found on Passerina and Bromus

24. Acknowledgments Field Assistance: Brad Ripley, Tony Dold, Beyers Cronje Funding: National Science Foundation