First Genome Sequence of a Parasitic Plant Published

Jülich, 28 June 2018 – Scientists from UiT The Arctic University of Norway (Tromsø), Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen University, Technical University of Munich, and University of Vienna have for the first time explained the genome of the parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris, which is responsible for severe crop yield losses. The sequencing of the genome could help to make crops more resistant to Cuscuta in future. The investigation was headed by Prof. Kirsten Krause, a parasite researcher from Tromsø, and Prof. Björn Usadel, a Jülich genome researcher and RWTH Aachen University professor.