The 17th World Congress on Parasitic Plants (WCPP) took place in Nara, Japan, from 3-7 June, 2024. About 160 participants from all continents (except Antarctica) attended the meeting, 140 of which on site. The meeting was superbly organised by a local organising team, led by Satoko Yoshida (Chair; NAIST), Atsushi Okazawa (Vice chair; Osaka Metro. Univ) and Kaori Yoneyama (Vice chair, Scientific program subcommittee; Saitama Univ) with the support of the IPPS and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO).
The meeting covered a wide range of topics in parasitic plants research, including strigolactone biology, molecular mechanisms, genome evolution and management technologies. The talks and posters included cutting edge research and exciting reports on various aspects of plant parasitism on diverged plant species. The program also included social events, such as a visit to the ancient city of Nara, the Deer Gathering and several opportunities to enjoy the Japanese cuisine such as at the Congress dinner and the Farewell reception.
Nara is the first capital of Japan from 710 to 784, and is home to numerous historical shrines and temples containing national treasures. Nara has three UNESCO World Heritage sites and the central Nara city is listed as “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara” that includes eight individual cultural assets. The congress took place at Nara Kasugano International Forum IRAKA located in the center of Nara National Park, known for its stunning beauty and friendly population of over a thousand tame deer, with Todaiji temple, Kofukuji temple and Kasuga Taisha shrine in walking distance. The main lecture hall was a Noh theatre made for traditional Japanese dance-drama performance.
The success of the 17th WCPP was also due to the generous support of a series of sponsors: see the website of the meeting and the International Parasitic Plant Society (IPPS).