Publication

This Special Issue of Botany on mistletoes is a result of a conference in Ashland, Oregon, USA, 18–21 July 2016, entitled “Mistletoes: Pathogens, Keystone Resource, and Medicinal Wonder”, and sponsored by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO; 7.02.11, Parasitic flowering plants in forests). 

The 12 papers in this issue represent a breadth of topics, including six papers on the dwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobium species). 

The opening commentary by David Watson (Australia), “On tropical mistletoes: tractable models for evolutionary ecology, ecosystem function, and phytochemistry” focuses on the fact that although the tropics is where the greatest diversity of mistletoes occur, this is also the region with the least amount of research. Therefore, it is likely the most important region for future work on ecology, evolution, and host–pathogen interactions, while also being relevant to broader aspects of plant biology, plant–animal interactions, pollination, and herbivory.