PARASITIC PLANTS AND THEIR PHYSIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS IN THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS

This paper presents the results of a research which had been carried out on the physiology of the parasitic plants Cuscuta campestris Yunker and Orobanche caryophyllacea Smith.    The physiological indices which have been analyzed were: respiration, transpiration, total water content, bound and unbound water, osmotic pressure,  suction force, the phosphorus and potassium contents.    The recordings show an increased value for the transpiration, a high content of total water, a low percentage of bound water and high values of osmotic pressure and suction force. The data obtained after these studies had been compared with the recordings from the host plants.   The results from the host plants indicate the following: reduced osmotic pressure of the cellular juice, a reduced suction force and a lower overall water content.  The ash content is greater in the case of the parasite plants, compared with their hosts.   At the same time, the phosphorus and potassium contents are clearly superior when compared with the values determined for the host plants