Anpei Zhou¹ , Zhiwei Jin² , Ziguang Li² , Xu Yang³

1 Institute of Jiangxi Oil-tea Camellia, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, 332000, China
2 Shanchong Forest, Kunming Haikou Forest Farm, Kunming, 650114, China
3 Industrial Development Office, Yunnan Academy of Forestry and Grassland, Kunming, 650204, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2021, Vol. 11, No. 3   doi: 10.5376/ijmec.2021.11.0003
Received: 28 Oct., 2021    Accepted: 04 Nov., 2021    Published: 12 Nov., 2021

This article was first published in Molecular Plant Breeding in Chinese, and here was authorized to translate and publish the paper in English under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Zhou A.P., Jin Z.W., Li Z.G., and Yang X., 2021, Investigation and analysis of parasitic characteristics of Taxillus thibetensis in Kunming Haikou Forest Farm, International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 11(3): 1-6 (doi: 10.5376/ijmec.2021.11.0003)

Mistletoes (Loranthaceae) is well known as a common hemi-parasitic shrub and its excessive reproduction can limit the function of natural forest and plantation on ecology, economy and society. By investigation, mistletoes were found in some area of Kunming Haikou Forest Farm, and the main type is Taxillus thibetensis. To monitor the spread of parasite and understand the choice preference, our study had focused on the enrichment areas of T. thibetensis in Kunming Haikou Forest Farm and conducted sample surveys from the center and four adjoining areas. The host selection of T. thibetensis was investigated and the regression relation between parasitic intensity and host growth characteristics was constructed. The results showed that the quadrat Two (M2; enrichment center) characterized by minimum canopy density (30%) and maximum slope gradient had a serious damage, while a few influence was found in others four quadrats (M1, M3, M4, and M5; adjoining areas), suggesting an initial stage of parasite spread. T. thibetensis showed a strong host selection and Quercus aliena was main host plants. There was no clear correlation between the spread of T. thibetensis and proportion of Q. aliena in community. The stepwise regression reveals the linear relationship between parasitic intensity and host characteristics. Crown width and diameter of Q. aliena were introduced into regression model under corrected R² fitting of 0.526, and the equation was y=-0.467+0.152x₁+0.110x₂. The parasitic position of T. thibetensis in M2 and M1 focused on the 40%~80% of host plants height, while the parasites were scattered over the trees in M3, M4 and M5. This work lays a scientific foundation for ecological control of T. thibetensis.

Taxillus thibetensis; Kunming Haikou Forest Farm; Parasitic characteristics; Quercus aliena