Plant Genomics: Evolution and Development of a Major Crop Parasite

Parasitic plants in the genus Striga bedevil crop production throughout Africa and Asia. A new genome assembly reveals how repurposing of developmental pathways, gene gains and losses, and horizonal gene transfer all contributed to the evolution of these destructive pathogens. Parasitic plants in the genus Striga bedevil crop production throughout Africa and Asia. A new genome assembly reveals how repurposing of developmental pathways, gene gains and losses, and horizonal gene transfer all contributed to the evolution of these destructive pathogens.