Project description:High-coverage whole genome sequencing of 11 Brazilian isolates of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, presenting different host plant preferences and different geographical origins. Four M. incognita host races had been proposed in the past, based on host (in)compatibility on four different plant strains. The objective was to assess whether genomic variations (SNP) correlate with host range compatibility, geographical origin and host plant of origin.
Project description:Magnaporthe oryzae (rice blast) and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola are causing two of the most important pathogenic diseases jeopardizing rice production. Here, we show that root-knot nematode infestation on rice roots leads to important above-ground changes in plant immunity gene expression, which is correlated with significantly enhanced susceptibility to blast disease.
Project description:During a compatible interaction, root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) induce the redifferentiation of root cells into multinucleate nematode feeding cells giant cells. These hypertrophied cells result from repeated nuclear divisions without cytokinesis, are metabolically active and present features typical of transfer cells. Hyperplasia of the surrounding cells leads to formation of the typical root gall. We investigate here the plant response to root-knot nematodes.
Project description:Biotrophic plant pathogens have evolved sophisticated strategies to manipulate their host. They derive all of their nutrients from living plant tissues, by making intimate contact with their host while avoiding a resistance response. Rice is one of the most important crop plants worldwide and an excellent model system for studying monocotyledonous plants. Estimates of annual yield losses due to plant-parasitic nematodes on this crop range from 10 to 25% worldwide. One of the agronomically most important nematodes attacking rice is the rice root knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola. Attack of plant roots by sedentary plant parasitic nematodes, like the root knot nematodes (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.) involves the development of specialized feeding cells in the vascular tissue. The second stage juvenile of the RKN punctures selected vascular cells with its stylet, injects pharyngeal secretions, and this ultimately leads to the reorganisation of these cells into typical feeding structures called giant cells (GCs), from which the nematode feeds for the remainder of its sedentary life cycle (Gheysen & Mitchum, 2011). Morphological and physiological reprogramming of the initial feeding cell leads to nucleus enlargement, proliferation of mitochondria and plastids, metabolic activation, cell cycle alterations and cell wall changes (Gheysen and Mitchum, 2011). The hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the surrounding cells leads to the formation of a root gall, which is typically formed at the root tips in the case of the rice RKN M. graminicola. In comparison with other RKN, M. graminicola has a very fast life cycle, with swelling of the root tips observed as early as 1 day after infection (dai). At 3 dai, terminal hook-like galls are clearly visible (Bridge et al., 2005). After 3 moults the nematodes are mature, around 10 dai. The M. graminicola females lay their eggs inside the galls, while most other RKN deposit egg masses at the gall surface, and hatched juveniles can reinfect the same or adjacent roots. In well-drained soil at 22-29 degrees C the life cycle of M. graminicola is completed in 19 days. 2 biological replicates of nematode infected giant cells and control vascular cells were sampled at two time points: 7 and 14 dai
Project description:In this study a comparison was made between the local transcriptional changes at two time points upon root knot (Meloidogyne graminicola) and migratory nematode (Hirschmanniella oryzae) infection in rice. Using mRNA-Seq we have characterized specific and general responses of the root challenged with these endoparastic root nematodes with very different modes of action. Root knot nematodes induce major developmental reprogramming of the root tip, where they force the cortical cells to form multinucleate giant cells, resulting in gall-development. Our results show that root knot nematodes force the plant to produce and transfer nutrients, like sugars and amino acids, to this tissue. Migratory nematodes, on the other hand, induce the expression of proteins involved in plant death and oxidative stress, and obstruct the normal metabolic activity of the root. While migratory nematode infection also causes upregulation of biotic stress-related genes early in the infection, the root knot nematodes seem to actively suppress the local defence of the plant root. This is exemplified by a downregulation of genes involved in the salicylic acid and ethylene pathways. Interestingly, hormone pathways usually involved in plant development, were strongly induced (auxin and gibberellin) or repressed (cytokinin) in the galls. In addition, thousands of novel transcriptionally active regions as well as highly expressed nematode transcripts were detected in the infected root tissues. These results uncover previously unrecognized nematode-specific expression profiles and provide an interesting starting point to study the physiological function of many yet unannotated transcripts potentially targeted by these nematodes. 2 or 3 biological replicates of nematode infected roots and root tips and their respective controls were sampled at two time points (1 biological replicate contains pooled tissue from 6 plants)
Project description:In this study a comparison was made between the local transcriptional changes at two time points upon root knot (Meloidogyne graminicola) and migratory nematode (Hirschmanniella oryzae) infection in rice. Using mRNA-Seq we have characterized specific and general responses of the root challenged with these endoparastic root nematodes with very different modes of action. Root knot nematodes induce major developmental reprogramming of the root tip, where they force the cortical cells to form multinucleate giant cells, resulting in gall-development. Our results show that root knot nematodes force the plant to produce and transfer nutrients, like sugars and amino acids, to this tissue. Migratory nematodes, on the other hand, induce the expression of proteins involved in plant death and oxidative stress, and obstruct the normal metabolic activity of the root. While migratory nematode infection also causes upregulation of biotic stress-related genes early in the infection, the root knot nematodes seem to actively suppress the local defence of the plant root. This is exemplified by a downregulation of genes involved in the salicylic acid and ethylene pathways. Interestingly, hormone pathways usually involved in plant development, were strongly induced (auxin and gibberellin) or repressed (cytokinin) in the galls. In addition, thousands of novel transcriptionally active regions as well as highly expressed nematode transcripts were detected in the infected root tissues. These results uncover previously unrecognized nematode-specific expression profiles and provide an interesting starting point to study the physiological function of many yet unannotated transcripts potentially targeted by these nematodes.
Project description:Epigenetic processes play a crucial role in the regulation of plant stress responses, but their role in plant-pathogen interactions remains poorly understood. Although histone modifying enzymes are deregulated in galls induced by root-knot nematode (RKN, Meloidogyne graminicola) in rice, their influence on plant defence and their genome-wide impact has not been comprehensively investigated. At genome-wide level, three histone marks, H3K9ac, H3K9me2 and H3K27me3 were studied by chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-sequencing on RKN-induced galls at 3 days post inoculation. While levels of H3K9ac and H3K27me3 were strongly enriched, H3K9me2 was generally depleted in galls versus control root tips. Differential histone peaks were generally associated with plant defence related genes. Total RNA sequencing was performed to assess the effect of histone modification changes on gene expression.
Project description:Biotrophic plant pathogens have evolved sophisticated strategies to manipulate their host. They derive all of their nutrients from living plant tissues, by making intimate contact with their host while avoiding a resistance response. Rice is one of the most important crop plants worldwide and an excellent model system for studying monocotyledonous plants. Estimates of annual yield losses due to plant-parasitic nematodes on this crop range from 10 to 25% worldwide. One of the agronomically most important nematodes attacking rice is the rice root knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola. Attack of plant roots by sedentary plant parasitic nematodes, like the root knot nematodes (RKN; Meloidogyne spp.) involves the development of specialized feeding cells in the vascular tissue. The second stage juvenile of the RKN punctures selected vascular cells with its stylet, injects pharyngeal secretions, and this ultimately leads to the reorganisation of these cells into typical feeding structures called giant cells (GCs), from which the nematode feeds for the remainder of its sedentary life cycle (Gheysen & Mitchum, 2011). Morphological and physiological reprogramming of the initial feeding cell leads to nucleus enlargement, proliferation of mitochondria and plastids, metabolic activation, cell cycle alterations and cell wall changes (Gheysen and Mitchum, 2011). The hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the surrounding cells leads to the formation of a root gall, which is typically formed at the root tips in the case of the rice RKN M. graminicola. In comparison with other RKN, M. graminicola has a very fast life cycle, with swelling of the root tips observed as early as 1 day after infection (dai). At 3 dai, terminal hook-like galls are clearly visible (Bridge et al., 2005). After 3 moults the nematodes are mature, around 10 dai. The M. graminicola females lay their eggs inside the galls, while most other RKN deposit egg masses at the gall surface, and hatched juveniles can reinfect the same or adjacent roots. In well-drained soil at 22-29ºC the life cycle of M. graminicola is completed in 19 days.
Project description:The aim of study is to investigate DEGs, long non-coding RNAs and alternative splicing events in the development of galls and neighboring region compared to the non-infected whole root induced by root-knot nematode (RKN, Meloidogyne incognita). Total RNA was extracted, ribosomal depleted libraries were prepared, and then high throughput RNA sequencing was performed using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000. High quality, paired-end reads were then aligned to the tomato reference genome (Heinz1706 assembly SL4.0) and uniquely mapped reads were counted using Htseq. Finally, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between whole roots-galls and whole roots-neighboring region were identified using DESeq package and downstream analyses were performed.
Project description:Solanum torvum Sw is worldwide employed as rootstock for eggplant cultivation because of its vigour and resistance/tolerance to the most serious soil-borne diseasesas bacterial, fungal wilts and root-knot nematodes. A 30,0000 features custom combimatrix chip was designed and microarray hybridizations were conducted for both control and 14 dpi (day post inoculation) with Meloidogyne incognita-infected roots samples. We also tested the chip with samples from the phylogenetically-related nematode-susceptible eggplant species Solanum melongena.The genes identified from S. torvum catalogue, bearing high homology to knownnematode resistance genes, were further investigated in view of their potential role in the nematode resistance mechanism. total RNA was extracted from control and 14 days post-infection (infection with root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita) from roots of Solanum torvum and Solanum melongena. Three biological replicates were used for each condition and genotype for a total of 12 samples.