Research on Parasitic Plant Resources in Xizang

Pubu Zhuoma; Xu Yongqiang; Danzeng Nima; Dawa; Gesang Langjie; Cao Pengxi; Wang Yuguo

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-3403.2025.09.005

Abstract：Parasitic plants are a unique group of plants that obtain nutrients from host plants through haustoria structure.Within the group,some are renowned medicinal herbs,while others are notorious agricultural weeds.Xizang,with its distinctive ecological environment,nurtures an exceptionally rich diversity of plant resources.How-ever,research on parasitic plant resources in Xizang has not yet been systematically conducted,Systematic compila-tion of existing literature data can provide a critical reference for comprehensively assessing parasitic plant resourc-es.In this study,a comprehensive catalog of parasitic plants in Xizang is established by integrating regional species diversity data and field investigations,documenting317species across38genera from7families.The analysis reveals that:(1)Orobanchaceae is the dominant family,accounting for 74.8%of the recorded species,with Pedicularis being the most prevalent genus(65.3%).(2)Ecological trait analysis demonstrates a predominance of hemiparasitism(90.2%)and root parasitism(83%),reflecting their adaptation to harsh alpine-arid conditions.(3)According to China Biodiversity Red List,10 species are classified as Vulnerable(VU),18 as Near Threatened(NT),and 53 as Data Deficient(DD).(4)Altitudinal distribution shows that hemiparasitic species in Xizang exhibit dense distribution at high altitudes(>4000 m)and a significantly broader altitudinal adaptation range compared to holoparasitic species,with only a holoparasitic species,Mannagettaea hummelii occurring above 4400 m.This study presents the first systematic analysis on the diversity patterns of parasitic plants in Xizang,providing critical baseline data for their conservation,sustainable utilization,and research into their evolutionary adaptation to extreme environment.