Lophophytum mirabile subsp. bolivianum Genome sequencing and assembly

We undertook a large-scale genomic study of the holoparasitic plant Lophophytum mirabile that belongs to the poorly studied family Balanophoraceae. Analyses of the mitochondrial genome sequence uncovered the presence of 59 circular-mapping chromosomes, bearing 55 genes, >75% of which were donated by its legume host.These foreign genes replaced the native homologs and are likely operative to generate energy through respiration. The use of host-derived genes may have a positive effect on the host-parasite relationship.