Scientist found new Root Parasitic plant Gleadovia konyakianorum

TNPSC Current Affairs - November 2017 by TNPSC Guru 

Scientist has found new Root Parasitic plant Gleadovia Konyakianorum that has no chlorophyll and survives in another plant for food. It was found in Mon district in Nagaland.

Gleadovia Konyokianorum is a root parasite which absorbs entire nutritional requirement from the host plant with a help of Haustorium. Haustorium is a specialised structure (like hair, root , stem) that penetrates the tissues of a host plant and absorbs required nutrients .

This is only the 4^th species found under the genus Gleadovia, other three species discovered are Gleadovia banerjiana in Manipur, Gleadovia mupinense in China and Gleadovia ruborum in Uttarakhand and China.

There are 2 types of parasite plant, one is plant parasite and another is Root Parasite.

Example:

Most common Plant parasite found in India called Loranthus found in Mango tree . Root parasite Sapria himalayana which found in Eastern Himalayas.