Painting new pathways: Castilleja enters the genomic era.

Genomic sequencing is transforming research on the hemiparasitic genus Castilleja by expanding gene families for host recognition and enabling genomic delimitation of cryptic taxa.

• Why it matters: The field needs integrative tools to connect Castilleja’s taxonomic complexity, host interactions, and specialized metabolites, especially as cryptic diversity complicates ecology and conservation.
• What they did: The review synthesizes recent advances enabled by whole-genome sequencing, including genomic species delimitation and frameworks for mapping biosynthetic pathways of iridoid glycosides and phenylethanoid glycosides.
• The result: Genomics is positioned as a unifying approach that links taxonomy, ecology, phytochemistry, and parasitic biology, supporting cross-disciplinary progress in Castilleja.

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