CUCP Platform: Accurate Identification of Cuscuta Species Through Chloroplast Genome Analysis

Cuscuta species (dodder) are parasitic plants that cause severe economic losses to agricultural crops worldwide, requiring effective management during crop breeding and variety development processes.However, accurate species identification is challenging using traditional morphology-based methods due to morphological similarities among Cuscuta species and phenotypic plasticity depending on host plants.This presents a significant obstacle that reduces the efficiency of breeding programs targeting dodder resistance.We developed the CUCP platform, which enables rapid and accurate identification of Cuscuta species through chloroplast genome analysis.This platform utilizes the BLASTn algorithm to compare input chloroplast genome sequences against a reference database comprising 33 Cuscuta chloroplast genomes reported in NCBI.This enables quick identification of Cuscuta species found in agricultural fields and efficient development of resistance breeding strategies specific to identified species.The CUCP platform (https://cucp.newgenes.me)serves as an essential tool for crop protection and resistant variety development.It enables the formulation of effective control strategies through rapid species identification in dodder-infested agricultural lands.Additionally, the platform's reference sequences are regularly updated as new Cuscuta chloroplast genomes become available in NCBI, ensuring continued accuracy.