Two independently evolved lineages of holoparasites — Balanophora (Santalales) and Sapria (Malpighiales) — display massively convergent characteristics of genome modifications, including gene loss in major pathways, reduction of multigene families and generally relaxed selection pressure. These findings provide valuable new insights into the fascinating biology of parasitic plants.
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This is a summary of: Chen, X. et al. Balanophora genomes display massively convergent evolution with other extreme holoparasites and provide novel insights into parasite–host interactions. Nat. Plants https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-023-01517-7 (2023).
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Strikingly convergent genome alterations in two independently evolved holoparasites. Nat. Plants 9, 1589–1590 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-023-01518-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-023-01518-6
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