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: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: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 April-August 2018, samples of galled roots with rhizosphere soil were collected from almond orchards in Atwater, Merced County and Bakersfield, Kern County, California. Almond trees (Prunus dulcis) grafted on 'Hansen 536' and 'Brights Hybrid®5' (peach-almond hybrid) rootstocks showed strong symptoms of growth decline. Extracted root-knot nematodes were identified by both morphological and molecular methods as M. floridensis. Meloidogyne floridensis was initially found in Florida, USA, and has not been reported from any other states and countries. This is a first report of M. floridensis in California and outside of Florida.In April-August 2018, samples of galled roots with rhizosphere soil were collected from almond orchards in Atwater, Merced County and Bakersfield, Kern County, California. Almond trees (Prunus dulcis) grafted on ‘Hansen 536’ and ‘Brights Hybrid®5’ (peach-almond hybrid) rootstocks showed strong symptoms of growth decline. Extracted root-knot nematodes were identified by both morphological and molecular methods as M. floridensis. Meloidogyne floridensis was initially found in Florida, USA, and has not been reported from any other states and countries. This is a first report of M. floridensis in California and outside of Florida.
Project description:Ascorbic acid (AA) is known to play a vital role in plant growth and detoxification of reactive oxygen species, however little is known about the significance of AA oxidation in plant defence against pathogens. • The role of ascorbate oxidation in rice defence against root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne graminicola, was tested with application of AA, ascorbate oxidase (AO), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), biosynthesis inhibitors and use of mutants. Transcriptome analysis was done on AO treated plants, and hormone measurements were executed to confirm the results. Biochemical analyses were used to study oxidative stress markers, including accumulation of H2O2, , malondialdehyde and AA/DHA.
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:The biocontrol agent Pythium oligandrum, which is a member of phylum Oomycota, can control diseases caused by a taxonomically wide range of plant pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, and oomycetes. However, whether P. oligandrum could control diseases caused by plant root-knot nematodes (RKNs) was unknown. We investigated a recently isolated P. oligandrum strain GAQ1, and the P. oligandrum CBS530.74 strain, for the control of RKN Meloidogyne incognita infection of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Initially, P. oligandrum culture filtrates were found to be lethal to M. incognita second-stage juveniles (J2s) with up to 84% mortality at 24 h after treatment compared to 14% in the control group. Consistent with the lethality to M. incognita J2s, tomato roots treated with P. oligandrum culture filtrates reduced the attraction of nematodes, and the number of nematodes penetrating the roots was reduced by up to 78%. In a greenhouse pot trial, P. oligandrum GAQ1 inoculation of tomato plants significantly reduced the gall number by 58% in plants infected with M. incognita. Notably, P. oligandrum GAQ1 mycelial treatment significantly increased tomato plant height (by 36%), weight (by 27%), and root weight (by 48%). Transcriptome analysis of tomato seedling roots inoculated with the P. oligandrum GAQ1 strain identified ~2,500 differentially expressed genes. The enriched GO terms and annotations in the up-regulated genes suggested modulation of plant hormone-signaling and defense-related pathways in response to P. oligandrum. In conclusion, our results support that P. oligandrum GAQ1 can serve as a potential biocontrol agent for M. incognita control in tomato. Multiple mechanisms appear to contribute to the biocontrol effect involving direct inhibition of M. incognita, potential priming of tomato plant defenses, and plant growth promotion.
Project description:A root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne floridensis n. sp., is described and illustrated from peach originally collected from Gainesville, Florida. This new species resembles M. incognita, M. christiei, M. graminicola, and M. hispanica, but with LM and SEM observations it differs from these species either by the body length, shape of head, tail and tail terminus of second-stage juveniles, body length and shape of spicules in males, and its distinctive female perineal pattern. This pattern has a high to narrowly rounded arch with coarsely broken and network-like striae in and around anal area, faint lateral lines interrupting transverse striae, a sunken vulva and anus, and large distinct phasmids. Molecular data from ribosomal IGS illustrate that M. floridensis n. sp. is different from the mitotic species M. arenaria, M. incognita, and M. javanica. Data from RAPDs confirm it and suggest that this new species lies in an intermediate phylogenetic position between the previous species and the meiotic species M. hapla, M. fallax, and M. chitwoodi. Differential host tests based on annual crops and on Prunus accessions are reported.
Project description:As an initial step to explore the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) root transcriptional response to the southern Root-Knot Nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita infestation, conventional heirloom G. hirsutum (Gh) cultivars [susceptible Acala SJ-2 (SJ2), moderately resistant Upland Wild Mexico Jack Jones (WMJJ), and resistant Acala NemX] that have been shown to be useful as an informative genetic model for detecting and introgressing RKN resistance genes into commercial Upland cotton were used to enlighten the molecular mechanisms and gene expression of RKN resistance. Using the next generation sequencing (NGS) Illumina MiSeq and HiSeq, we performed RNA-seq profiling in roots with disease progression of 10 days and collected from 23 days old plants of SJ2, WMJJ, and NemX. With three biological replicates of each treatment from each cultivar, plants were subjected to RKN-infestation and non-infested control developing a total of 18 RNA-seq libraries