Lignin-based resistance to Cuscuta campestris in tomato

Parasitic angiosperms use specialized organs known as haustoria as physiological bridges to extract nutrients and water from their hosts. Cuscuta species (dodders) are common and agriculturally destructive parasitic plants. While most tomato cultivars can be parasitized by C. campestris, the Heinz hybrid cultivars 9492 and 9553 (H9492 and H9553) have been reported to exhibit resistance to dodders. However, another related Heinz hybrid cultivar 9775 (H9775) is susceptible. To identify the key resistance genes, we used RNA-Seq and DNA-Seq to identify the important regulators in resistant cultivars.