Devastating parasitic weed may be felled by toxin borrowed from flies

Abstract

The parasitic weed, broomrape, attaches to the root of such vegetable crops as tomato, potato, beans, and sunflowers. With no need for leaves of its own, it produces only a floral shoot above ground. Meanwhile, its host is barely able to survive, much less be productive. Now, the defense mechanism of another pest - the fly - may provide a weapon against parasitic weeds.