FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE HEMIPARASITIC PLANT RHINANTHUS RUMELICUS Velen AND ITS HOST SPECIES

Abstract

Rhinanthus rumelicus Velen is a hemiparasitic herbaceous species commonly found in hill and lowland meadows, particularly in areas where arable land has been abandoned and converted into grassland. As a result, it can be inferred that this species has an impact on community structure, vegetation zonation, and the dynamics of plant populations.
Physiologically, the species extracts a portion of the raw sap from its host plants. The photosynthesis process occurs with intensities similar to those of autotrophic plants. Research has indicated that Rhinanthus rumelicus plants exhibit a more intense respiration process compared to their host plants. While the intensity of their photosynthesis is within the normal range for a unit of leaf surface, the quantity of organic substances generated by this process is minimal, as these substances are primarily consumed during the respiratory process.