A species-specific satellite DNA family in the genome of the coffee root-knot nematode Meloidogyne exigua: application to molecular diagnostics of the parasite

Genetic Variability among Different Populations of Root Knot Nematodes Based on Their Encumbrance Response to Pasteuria Isolates Using PCR-RFLP

A great variable response was observed when PP-3 and PP-J encumbered with 116 populations of root knot nematode (RKN) at two different temperatures (25 ± 2°C and 30 ± 2°C) and concentrations (10⁴ and 10⁵ spores/ml). The PCR reaction amplified intergenic region between cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene (COII) and large subunit of rRNA gene (lrRNA) of the mitochondrial genome of different RKN species. The primer C2F3 and 1108 identified M. incognita with the highest frequency (52.6%) followed by M. javanica (36.8%) and M. arenaria (10.5%). The sizes of PCR products were 1.7 kb for M. incognita and M. javanica populations while populations of M. arenaria produced 1.1 kb fragment. The digestion with Hinf I yielded three different fragment length patterns on 1.5 % agarose gel. From current research it is concluded that intra-Meloidogyne genetic variability exist in RKN populations which have better encumbrance with P. penetrans.

Challenges in tropical plant nematology

A major challenge facing agricultural scientists today is the need to secure food for an increasing world population. This growth occurs predominantly in developing, mostly tropical countries, where the majority of hungry people live. Reducing yield losses caused by pathogens of tropical agricultural crops is one measure that can contribute to increased food production. Although plant-parasitic nematodes are often not as important as some other biotic and nonbiotic constraints on crop production in the tropics, they can nevertheless cause extensive damage and substantial yield losses. The effects of agricultural, environmental, socioeconomic, and policy changes on the occurrence of plant-parasitic nematodes in the tropics and the losses these pathogens cause are largely undocumented. Recent developments pose new challenges to tropical nematology. The increased application of molecular diagnostics may widen the knowledge gap between nematologists working in developed countries and in the tropics. Uncertainties concerning the validity of nematode species will lead to practical problems related to quarantine measures and nematode management. The study of interactions between nematodes and other pathogens in disease complexes provide opportunities for multidisciplinary research with scientists from other disciplines but remain underexploited. Difficulties in recognizing emerging nematode threats prevent the timely implementation of management strategies, thus increasing yield losses. Research is needed to address these challenges. Examples are presented mainly but not exclusively from banana, peanut, and rice nematology.

Genetic variability and adaptive evolution in parthenogenetic root-knot nematodes

Root-knot nematodes (RKN) of the genus Meloidogyne are biotrophic plant parasites of major agricultural importance, which exhibit very variable modes of reproduction, from classical amphimixis to mitotic parthenogenesis. This review focuses on those RKN species that reproduce exclusively by mitotic parthenogenesis (apomixis), in contrast to those that have meiotic/amphimitic events in their life cycle. Although populations of clonal organisms are often represented as being ecologically isolated and evolutionary inert, a considerable volume of literature provides evidence that asexual RKN are neither: they are widely distributed, extremely polyphagous, and amenable to selection and adaptive variation. The ancestors of the genus are unknown, but it is assumed that the parthenogenetic RKN have evolved from amphimictic species through hybridization and subsequent aneuploidization and polyploidization events. Molecular studies have indeed confirmed that the phylogenetic divergence between meiotic and mitotic RKN lineages occurred early, and have revealed an unexpected level of clonal diversity among populations within apomictic species. Laboratory experiments have shown that asexual RKN can rapidly adapt to new environmental constraints (eg host resistance), although with some fitness costs. Lastly, the molecular and chromosomal mechanisms that could contribute to genome plasticity leading to persistent genetic variation and adaptive evolution in apomictic RKN are discussed. It is concluded that RKN provide an excellent model system in which to study the dynamic nature and adaptive potential of clonal genomes.

Conserved and variable domains in satellite DNAs of mitotic parthenogenetic root-knot nematode species

Two satellite DNAs have been characterized in the mitotic parthenogenetic root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne javanica and M. paranaensis, agriculturally important phytoparasitic species. The satellite repeat variants cloned from M. javanica could not be resolved from those described earlier in M. arenaria [Castagnone-Sereno, P., Leroy, F., Abad, P., 2000. Cloning and characterization of an extremely conserved satellite DNA family from the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria. Genome 43, 346-353] and are therefore classified as a single satellite named MARJA. However, this satellite shows 34.3% sequence divergence in comparison with the MPA1 satellite characterized in M. paranaensis, and monomer variants of both satellites are clearly distinguished by homogenized nucleotide substitutions. Nucleotide variability analysis revealed in one segment of the satellite monomer domains of high and low variability, conserved both within and between monomer variants of the two satellites. Intersatellite conservation of these domains indicates evolution of satellite sequence under different constraints, probably due to some functional interactions. In addition, high intrasatellite homogeneity, presence of ancestral mutations in groups of MARJA monomers in both M. javanica and M. arenaria and highly homogenized divergent positions in comparison with the MPA1 indicate similar sequence dynamics in mitotic parthenogenetic taxa to that observed in amphimictic species.