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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 6127

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Dr. Sergio Molinari

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Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, IPSP-Bari Unit, Department of Biology, Agricultural and Food Sciences, DISBA, National Council of Research, CNR, 70126 Bari, Italy
Interests: plant immune system; plant pests; biochemistry; immunology; nematodes; oxygen metabolism
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Dear Colleagues,

The interaction of sedentary endoparasitic nematodes with plant roots is one of the most intriguing in the world of pest–plant relationships. Invasive juveniles enter the roots and move towards the differentiating vascular cylinder, where they pierce a small number of cells with their stylet, establishing a complex feeding site. They inject the chosen cells with an array of secretions that have a primary digestive function, although these secretions contain molecular effectors able to change gene expressions so markedly as to transform differentiated cells into modified cells for the transfer of nutrients from the vascular system to the developing sedentary juvenile. Although several effectors have been recognized, investigations are needed to unravel the molecular mechanisms by which such effectors are able to enhance the transcription of some genes and silence other genes (e.g., defense genes). Another interesting topic is the understanding of the molecular bases of the resistance reactions in plants carrying resistance genes (R-genes) or the induced resistances occurring in primed susceptible plants. In R-gene-carrying plants, specific nematode effectors can be recognized by intracellular NLRs in the so-called effector-triggered immunity (ETI). In primed susceptible plants, defense genes are over-expressed and the amount of feeding sites reduced with respect to unprimed plants. In both cases, immunity is expressed as the programmed death of cells and tissues surrounding the juveniles attempting to build their feeding sites. Although a consistent amount of research has recently been conducted on these topics, the molecular, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms by which immunity is triggered and executed are far from being completely revealed. Therefore, the goal of this Special Issue is to collect original research articles and up-to-date reviews on the above-mentioned mechanisms of plant immunology which present high analogy with those operating in animal and human immunology. I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sergio Molinari
Guest Editor

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Keywords

plant parasitic nematodes
plant immune system
resistance to nematodes (genetic and induced)
plant defense activators
defense molecular mechanisms

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Single Nematode Transcriptomic Analysis, Using Long-Read Technology, Reveals Two Novel Virulence Gene Candidates in the Soybean Cyst Nematode, Heterodera glycines

by Dave T. Ste-Croix, Richard R. Bélanger and Benjamin Mimee

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(11), 9440; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119440 - 29 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1399

Abstract

The soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines, SCN), is the most damaging disease of soybean in North America. While management of this pest using resistant soybean is generally still effective, prolonged exposure to cultivars derived from the same source of resistance (PI 88788) has led to the emergence of virulence. Currently, the underlying mechanisms responsible for resistance breakdown remain unknown. In this study, we combined a single nematode transcriptomic profiling approach with long-read sequencing to reannotate the SCN genome. This resulted in the annotation of 1932 novel transcripts and 281 novel gene features. Using a transcript-level quantification approach, we identified eight novel effector candidates overexpressed in PI 88788 virulent nematodes in the late infection stage. Among these were the novel gene Hg-CPZ-1 and a pioneer effector transcript generated through the alternative splicing of the non-effector gene Hetgly21698. While our results demonstrate that alternative splicing in effectors does occur, we found limited evidence of direct involvement in the breakdown of resistance. However, our analysis highlighted a distinct pattern of effector upregulation in response to PI 88788 resistance indicative of a possible adaptation process by SCN to host resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Nematode Interactions)

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17 pages, 2021 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inhibition of ROS-Scavenging Enzyme System Is a Key Event in Tomato Genetic Resistance against Root-Knot Nematodes

by Sergio Molinari and Paola Leonetti

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7324; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087324 - 15 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1406

Abstract

Genetic resistance in plants against incompatible pests is expressed by the activation of an immune system; however, the molecular mechanisms of pest recognition and expression of immunity, although long the object of investigation, are far from being fully understood. The immune response triggered by the infection of soil-borne parasites, such as root-knot nematodes (RKNs), to incompatible resistant tomato plants was studied and compared to the compatible response that occurred when RKNs attacked susceptible plants. In compatible interactions, the invading nematode juveniles were allowed to fully develop and reproduce, whilst that was impeded in incompatible interactions. In crude root extracts, a first assay of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzymatic activity was carried out at the earliest stages of tomato–RKN incompatible interaction. Membrane-bound and soluble CAT, which is the most active enzyme in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging, was found to be specifically inhibited in roots of inoculated resistant plants until 5 days after inoculation, with respect to uninoculated plants. The expression of genes encoding for antioxidant enzymes, such as CAT and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), was not always inhibited in roots of nematode-infected resistant tomato. Therefore, the biochemical mechanisms of CAT inhibition were further investigated. Two CAT isozymes were characterized by size exclusion HPLC as a tetrameric form with a molecular weight of 220,000 dalton and its subunits (55,000 dalton). Fractions containing such isozymes were tested by their sensitivity to both salicylic acid (SA) and H₂O₂. It was evidenced that elevated concentrations of both chemicals led to a partial inactivation of CAT. Elevated concentrations of H₂O₂ in incompatible interactions have been suggested to be produced by membrane-bound superoxide anion generating, SOD, and isoperoxidase-enhanced activities. Such partial inactivation of CAT has been depicted as one of the earliest key metabolic events, which is specifically associated with tomato immunity to RKNs. Enhanced ROS production and the inhibition of ROS-scavenging systems have been considered to trigger all the metabolic events leading to cell death and tissue necrosis developed around the head of the invading juveniles by which this special type of plant resistance is exerted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Nematode Interactions)

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10 pages, 2013 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Variation among Heterodera schachtii Populations Coincided with Differences in Invasion and Propagation in Roots of a Set of Cruciferous Plants

by Rasha Haj Nuaima and Holger Heuer

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6848; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076848 - 06 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1114

Abstract

Genes of host plants and parasitic nematodes govern the plant–nematode interaction. The biological receptors and parasitism effectors are variable among plant species and nematode populations, respectively. In the present study, hatch testing and bioassays on cabbage, oilseed radish, and mustard were conducted to compare the biological characteristics among six populations of the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii. Genetic patterns of the vap1 gene for the studied populations were distinct as shown by denaturing the gradient gel electrophoresis of PCR-amplified gene fragments. Concurrently, significant differences in the hatching rates, number of penetrated J2 in roots, and eggs/cyst ratios among the six nematode populations for the three cruciferous species were observed. In conclusion, analyzing the population genetic structure of H. schachtii plays a pivotal role in illustrating the variability in the plant–nematode interaction among its populations and plant species, which in its role leads to developing nematode management depending on plant resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Nematode Interactions)

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16 pages, 20718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gma-miR408 Enhances Soybean Cyst Nematode Susceptibility by Suppressing Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation

by Yaxing Feng, Nawei Qi, Piao Lei, Yuanyuan Wang, Yuanhu Xuan, Xiaoyu Liu, Haiyan Fan, Lijie Chen, Yuxi Duan and Xiaofeng Zhu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 14022; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232214022 - 14 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1815

Abstract

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycine) is a serious damaging disease in soybean worldwide, thus resulting in severe yield losses. MicroRNA408 (miR408) is an ancient and highly conserved miRNA involved in regulating plant growth, development, biotic and abiotic stress response. Here, we analyzed the evolution of miR408 in plants and verified four miR408 members in Glycine max. In the current research, highly upregulated gma-miR408 expressing was detected during nematode migration and syncytium formation response to soybean cyst nematode infection. Overexpressing and silencing miR408 vectors were transformed to soybean to confirm its potential role in plant and nematode interaction. Significant variations were observed in the MAPK signaling pathway with low OXI1, PR1, and wounding of the overexpressing lines. Overexpressing miR408 could negatively regulate soybean resistance to SCN by suppressing reactive oxygen species accumulation. Conversely, silencing miR408 positively regulates soybean resistance to SCN. Overall, gma-miR408 enhances soybean cyst nematode susceptibility by suppressing reactive oxygen species accumulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Nematode Interactions)

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