Haustoria (Cuscuta reflexa)

It is a parasitic plant produces special roots that penetrates the host's tissue plant and draws nutrients from it. Haustoria penetrate the host plant's cell wall and siphon {elongated cell found in plant} nutrients from the space between the cell wall and plasma membrane.

NOTE:- It does not penetrate the plant's cell membrane ITSELF.

• Fungi in its further division form haustoria.
• it takes several forms.
• After penetration on the host plant , fungus increases the surface area and when they come in contact with host plasma membrane it releases an enzyme which break down the cell wall, enabling greater potential movement of organic carbon from host to fungus. 

1. Functional exchange takes place within the haustorial complex.
2. The host supplies organic carbon to the fungus, and the metabolic activity within the complex is considerably greater than outside.
3. Carbon from the host is absorbed by the fungus, and transported to the rest of the thallus.
4. The host plant appears to be functioning according to signals from the fungus and the complex appears to be under the control of the invader.
5. The haustorium may be mycelium or root-shaped.

QUE:- Difference between Parasitic root i.e. haustoria and Mycorrhizae ?

Ans:-   Parasitic roots(Haustoria) - Adventitious roots from the nodes of these plants penetrate into the host tissue (via peg-like projections called haustoria) and enter into its conducting tissue (water-conducting and food-conducting) to acquire their nutrition.

Mycorrhizae - Fungus-roots or mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations between a fungus partner and roots of higher plants that benefits both the fungus and the root. The fungus facilitates the absorption of water and nutrients for the plant and the plant furnishes sugars and amino acids for the fungus.

By 
     Alok gupta