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An organ produced by a parasite to absorb nutrients from its host. Most commonly the term refers to the hyphal extensions formed by obligate fungal parasites, which protrude into individual host cells. A successful fungal parasite does not kill the host cells and manages to insert haustoria without rupturing the plasma membrane. If the host cells are killed, the host is said to be hypersensitive and the infection cannot develop. The suckers of parasitic angiosperms, such as dodders (Cuscula), are also called haustoria. These penetrate the vascular tissue of the host plants.
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