Plant Science Conversations: Evolution of Parasitic Plants (Online Discussion)

Dr. Jim Westwood, Professor, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech; Dr. Susan Pell, Executive Director, U.S. Botanic Garden
Plants have evolved incredible – and fearsome – mechanisms for survival. Of all these adaptations from carnivory to toxicity, perhaps the most shudder-inducing is parasitism – the invasion and forced connection between a plant and its host. Join Executive Director Dr. Susan Pell in conversation with Dr. Jim Westwood to hear about his research on parasitic plants. He'll discuss how and why parasitic plants have evolved to invade and elaborate on the genetic mechanisms that drive parasitism.

Dr. Jim Westwood

Professor, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

Virginia Tech

Dr. Jim Westwood's research focuses on parasitic plants, which have evolved to lose certain features typical of plants (e.g., photosynthesis) while exhibiting other remarkable capabilities such as the ability to identify and attack other plant species. He is w...(read more)

Dr. Susan Pell

Executive Director

U.S. Botanic Garden

Dr. Susan Pell is a botanist, educator, and the Executive Director of the United States Botanic Garden. Susan has traveled the world collecting plants for scientific study. Her research has focused on the Anacardiaceae family which includes cashews, sumac, and...(read more)