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Dutta TK, Rupinikrishna K, Akhil VS, Vashisth N, Phani V, Pankaj, Sirohi A, Chinnusamy V. CRISPR/Cas9-induced knockout of an amino acid permease gene (AAP6) reduced Arabidopsis thaliana susceptibility to Meloidogyne incognita. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:515. [PMID: 38851681 PMCID: PMC11162074 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05175-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plant-parasitic root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) causes global yield loss in agri- and horticultural crops. Nematode management options rely on chemical method. However, only a handful of nematicides are commercially available. Resistance breeding efforts are not sustainable because R gene sources are limited and nematodes have developed resistance-breaking populations against the commercially available Mi-1.2 gene-expressing tomatoes. RNAi crops that manage nematode infection are yet to be commercialized because of the regulatory hurdles associated with transgenic crops. The deployment of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to improve nematode tolerance (by knocking out the susceptibility factors) in plants has emerged as a feasible alternative lately. RESULTS In the present study, a M. incognita-responsive susceptibility (S) gene, amino acid permease (AAP6), was characterized from the model plant Arabidodpsis thaliana by generating the AtAAP6 overexpression line, followed by performing the GUS reporter assay by fusing the promoter of AtAAP6 with the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene. Upon challenge inoculation with M. incognita, overexpression lines supported greater nematode multiplication, and AtAAP6 expression was inducible to the early stage of nematode infection. Next, using CRISPR/Cas9, AtAAP6 was selectively knocked out without incurring any growth penalty in the host plant. The 'Cas9-free' homozygous T3 line was challenge inoculated with M. incognita, and CRISPR-edited A. thaliana plants exhibited considerably reduced susceptibility to nematode infection compared to the non-edited plants. Additionally, host defense response genes were unaltered between edited and non-edited plants, implicating the direct role of AtAAP6 towards nematode susceptibility. CONCLUSION The present findings enrich the existing literature on CRISPR/Cas9 research in plant-nematode interactions, which is quite limited currently while compared with the other plant-pathogen interaction systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar K Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Katakam Rupinikrishna
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Voodikala S Akhil
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Neeraj Vashisth
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Victor Phani
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV), Balurghat, 733133, India
| | - Pankaj
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Anil Sirohi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Viswanathan Chinnusamy
- Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
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Huang G, Cong Z, Liu Z, Chen F, Bravo A, Soberón M, Zheng J, Peng D, Sun M. Silencing Ditylenchus destructor cathepsin L-like cysteine protease has negative pleiotropic effect on nematode ontogenesis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10030. [PMID: 38693283 PMCID: PMC11063044 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60018-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Ditylenchus destructor is a migratory plant-parasitic nematode that severely harms many agriculturally important crops. The control of this pest is difficult, thus efficient strategies for its management in agricultural production are urgently required. Cathepsin L-like cysteine protease (CPL) is one important protease that has been shown to participate in various physiological and pathological processes. Here we decided to characterize the CPL gene (Dd-cpl-1) from D. destructor. Analysis of Dd-cpl-1 gene showed that Dd-cpl-1 gene contains a signal peptide, an I29 inhibitor domain with ERFNIN and GNFD motifs, and a peptidase C1 domain with four conserved active residues, showing evolutionary conservation with other nematode CPLs. RT-qPCR revealed that Dd-cpl-1 gene displayed high expression in third-stage juveniles (J3s) and female adults. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that Dd-cpl-1 was expressed in the digestive system and reproductive organs. Silencing Dd-cpl-1 in 1-cell stage eggs of D. destructor by RNAi resulted in a severely delay in development or even in abortive morphogenesis during embryogenesis. The RNAi-mediated silencing of Dd-cpl-1 in J2s and J3s resulted in a developmental arrest phenotype in J3 stage. In addition, silencing Dd-cpl-1 gene expression in female adults led to a 57.43% decrease in egg production. Finally, Dd-cpl-1 RNAi-treated nematodes showed a significant reduction in host colonization and infection. Overall, our results indicate that Dd-CPL-1 plays multiple roles in D. destructor ontogenesis and could serve as a new potential target for controlling D. destructor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Ziwen Cong
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zhonglin Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Feng Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Alejandra Bravo
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Mario Soberón
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jinshui Zheng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Donghai Peng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Ming Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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Dutta TK, Akhil VS, Kundu A, Dash M, Phani V, Sirohi A, Somvanshi VS. Induced knockdown of Mg-odr-1 and Mg-odr-3 perturbed the host seeking behavior of Meloidogyne graminicola in rice. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26384. [PMID: 38420492 PMCID: PMC10900406 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola is one of the most destructive plant parasites in upland as well as direct seeded rice. As an integral part of nematode biology, host finding behavior involves perceiving and responding to different chemical cues originating from the rhizosphere. A sustainable management tactic may include retardation of nematode chemoreception that would impair them to detect and discriminate the host stimuli. Deciphering the molecular basis of nematode chemoreception is vital to identify chokepoints for chemical or genetic interventions. However, compared to the well-characterized chemoreception mechanism in model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, plant nematode chemoreception is yet underexplored. Herein, the full-length cDNA sequences of two chemotaxis-related genes (Mg-odr-1 and Mg-odr-3) were cloned from M. graminicola. Both the genes were markedly upregulated in the early developmental stages of M. graminicola suggesting their involvement in host finding processes. RNAi-induced independent knockdown of Mg-odr-1 and Mg-odr-3 caused behavioral aberration in second-stage juveniles of M. graminicola which in turn perturbed the nematodes' host finding ability and parasitic success inside rice roots. Additionally, nematodes' chemotactic response to different host root exudates, volatile and nonvolatile compounds was affected. Our results demonstrating the role of specific chemosensory genes in modulating M. graminicola host seeking behavior can enrich the existing knowledge of plant nematode chemoreception mechanism, and these genes can be targeted for novel nematicide development or in planta RNAi screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar K. Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Voodikala S. Akhil
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Artha Kundu
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Manoranjan Dash
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Victor Phani
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Majhian Campus), Balurghat, 733133, India
| | - Anil Sirohi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Vishal S. Somvanshi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
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Thorat YE, Dutta TK, Jain PK, Subramaniam K, Sirohi A. A nematode-inducible promoter can effectively drives RNAi construct to confer Meloidogyne incognita resistance in tomato. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023; 43:3. [PMID: 38117317 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03114-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Heterologous expression of a nematode-responsive promoter in tomato successfully driven the RNAi constructs to impart root-knot nematode resistance. The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita seriously afflicts the global productivity of tomatoes. Nematode management options are extremely reliant on chemical methods, however, only a handful of nematicides are commercially available. Additionally, nematodes have developed resistance-breaking phenotypes against the commercially available Mi gene-expressing tomatoes. Nematode resistance in crop plants can be enhanced using the bio-safe RNAi technology, in which plants are genetically modified to express nematode gene-specific dsRNA/siRNA molecules. However, the majority of the RNAi crops conferring nematode tolerance have used constitutive promoters, which have many limitations. In the present study, using promoter-GUS fusion, we functionally validated two nematode-inducible root-specific promoters (pAt1g74770 and pAt2g18140, identified from Arabidopsis thaliana) in the Solanum lycopersicum-M. incognita pathosystem. pAt2g18140 was found to be nematode-responsive during 10-21 days post-inoculation (dpi) and became non-responsive during the late infection stage (28 dpi). In contrast, pAt1g74770 remained nematode-responsive for a longer duration (10-28 dpi). Next, a number of transgenic lines were developed that expressed RNAi constructs (independently targeting the M. incognita integrase and splicing factor genes) driven by the pAt1g74770 promoter. M. incognita parasitic success (measured by multiplication factor ratio) in pAt1g74770:integrase and pAt1g74770:splicing factor RNAi lines were significantly reduced by 60.83-74.93% and 69.34-75.31%, respectively, compared to the control. These data were comparable with the RNAi lines having CaMV35S as the promoter. Further, a long-term RNAi effect was evident, because females extracted from transgenic lines were of deformed shape with depleted transcripts of integrase and splicing factor genes. We conclude that pAt1g74770 can be an attractive alternative to drive localized expression of RNAi constructs rather than using a constitutive promoter. The pAt1g74770-driven gene silencing system can be expanded into different plant-nematode interaction models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh E Thorat
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
- Biological Control Centre, ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, 413712, India
| | - Tushar K Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Pradeep K Jain
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | | | - Anil Sirohi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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Dutta TK, Akhil VS, Dash M, Kundu A, Phani V, Sirohi A. Molecular and functional characterization of chemosensory genes from the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:745. [PMID: 38057766 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09864-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola has emerged as a major threat in rice agroecosystems owing to climate change-induced changes in cultivation practices. Synthetic nematicides are continually being withdrawn from the nematode management toolbox because of their ill effects on the environment. A sustainable strategy would be to develop novel nematicides or resistant plants that would target nematode sensory perception, which is a key step in the host finding biology of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs). However, compared to the extensive literature on the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, negligible research has been performed on PPN chemosensory biology. RESULTS The present study characterizes the five chemosensory genes (Mg-odr-7, Mg-tax-4, Mg-tax-4.1, Mg-osm-9, and Mg-ocr-2) from M. graminicola that are putatively associated with nematode host-finding biology. All the genes were highly transcribed in the early life stages, and RNA interference (RNAi)-induced downregulation of each candidate gene perturbed the normal behavioural phenotypes of M. graminicola, as determined by examining the tracking pattern of juveniles on Pluronic gel medium, attraction to and penetration in rice root tip, and developmental progression in rice root. In addition, a detrimental effect on nematode chemotaxis towards different volatile and nonvolatile organic compounds and host root exudates was documented. CONCLUSION Our findings enrich the existing literature on PPN chemosensory biology and can supplement future research aimed at identifying a comprehensive chemosensory signal transduction pathway in PPNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar K Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Voodikala S Akhil
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Manoranjan Dash
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Artha Kundu
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Victor Phani
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Balurghat, Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal, India
| | - Anil Sirohi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
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Dutta TK, Ray S, Phani V. The status of the CRISPR/Cas9 research in plant-nematode interactions. PLANTA 2023; 258:103. [PMID: 37874380 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04259-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION As an important biotic stressor, plant-parasitic nematodes afflict global crop productivity. Deployment of CRISPR/Cas9 system that selectively knock out host susceptibility genes conferred improved nematode tolerance in crop plants. As an important biotic stressor, plant-parasitic nematodes cause a considerable yield decline in crop plants that eventually contributes to a negative impact on global food security. Being obligate plant parasites, the root-knot and cyst nematodes maintain an intricate and sophisticated relationship with their host plants by hijacking the host's physiological and metabolic pathways for their own benefit. Significant progress has been made toward developing RNAi-based transgenic crops that confer nematode resistance. However, the strategy of host-induced gene silencing that targets nematode effectors is likely to fail because the induced silencing of effectors (which interact with plant R genes) may lead to the development of nematode phenotypes that break resistance. Lately, the CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing system has been deployed to achieve host resistance against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. In these studies, host susceptibility (S) genes were knocked out to achieve resistance via loss of susceptibility. As the S genes are recessively inherited in plants, induced mutations of the S genes are likely to be long-lasting and confer broad-spectrum resistance. A number of S genes contributing to plant susceptibility to nematodes have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, tomato, cucumber, and soybean. A few of these S genes were targeted for CRISPR/Cas9-based knockout experiments to improve nematode tolerance in crop plants. Nevertheless, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was mostly utilized to interrogate the molecular basis of plant-nematode interactions rather than direct research toward achieving tolerance in crop plants. The current standalone article summarizes the progress made so far on CRISPR/Cas9 research in plant-nematode interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar K Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Soham Ray
- Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Victor Phani
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal, 733133, India
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Dutta TK, Vashisth N, Ray S, Phani V, Chinnusamy V, Sirohi A. Functional analysis of a susceptibility gene (HIPP27) in the Arabidopsis thaliana-Meloidogyne incognita pathosystem by using a genome editing strategy. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:390. [PMID: 37563544 PMCID: PMC10416466 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04401-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plant-parasitic root-knot nematodes cause immense yield declines in crop plants that ultimately obviate global food security. They maintain an intimate relationship with their host plants and hijack the host metabolic machinery to their own advantage. The existing resistance breeding strategies utilizing RNAi and resistance (R) genes might not be particularly effective. Alternatively, knocking out the susceptibility (S) genes in crop plants appears to be a feasible approach, as the induced mutations in S genes are likely to be long-lasting and may confer broad-spectrum resistance. This could be facilitated by the use of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing technology that precisely edits the gene of interest using customizable guide RNAs (gRNAs) and Cas9 endonuclease. RESULTS Initially, we characterized the nematode-responsive S gene HIPP27 from Arabidopsis thaliana by generating HIPP27 overexpression lines, which were inoculated with Meloidogyne incognita. Next, two gRNAs (corresponding to the HIPP27 gene) were artificially synthesized using laboratory protocols, sequentially cloned into a Cas9 editor plasmid, mobilized into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101, and transformed into Arabidopsis plants using the floral dip method. Apart from 1-3 bp deletions and 1 bp insertions adjacent to the PAM site, a long deletion of approximately 161 bp was documented in the T0 generation. Phenotypic analysis of homozygous, 'transgene-free' T2 plants revealed reduced nematode infection compared to wild-type plants. Additionally, no growth impairment was observed in gene-edited plants. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the loss of function of HIPP27 in A. thaliana by CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutagenesis can improve host resistance to M. incognita.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar K Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Neeraj Vashisth
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Soham Ray
- Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Victor Phani
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Dakshin Dinajpur, Balurghat, West Bengal, 733133, India
| | - Viswanathan Chinnusamy
- Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Anil Sirohi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
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Khan A, Chen S, Fatima S, Ahamad L, Siddiqui MA. Biotechnological Tools to Elucidate the Mechanism of Plant and Nematode Interactions. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2387. [PMID: 37376010 DOI: 10.3390/plants12122387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) pose a threat to global food security in both the developed and developing worlds. PPNs cause crop losses worth a total of more than USD 150 billion worldwide. The sedentary root-knot nematodes (RKNs) also cause severe damage to various agricultural crops and establish compatible relationships with a broad range of host plants. This review aims to provide a broad overview of the strategies used to identify the morpho-physiological and molecular events that occur during RKN parasitism. It describes the most current developments in the transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic strategies of nematodes, which are important for understanding compatible interactions of plants and nematodes, and several strategies for enhancing plant resistance against RKNs. We will highlight recent rapid advances in molecular strategies, such as gene-silencing technologies, RNA interference (RNAi), and small interfering RNA (siRNA) effector proteins, that are leading to considerable progress in understanding the mechanism of plant-nematode interactions. We also take into account genetic engineering strategies, such as targeted genome editing techniques, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) (CRISPR/Cas-9) system, and quantitative trait loci (QTL), to enhance the resistance of plants against nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arshad Khan
- Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Shaohua Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Saba Fatima
- Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Lukman Ahamad
- Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
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Transgenic Improvement for Biotic Resistance of Crops. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214370. [PMID: 36430848 PMCID: PMC9697442 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Biotic constraints, including pathogenic fungi, viruses and bacteria, herbivory insects, as well as parasitic nematodes, cause significant yield loss and quality deterioration of crops. The effect of conventional management of these biotic constraints is limited. The advances in transgenic technologies provide a direct and directional approach to improve crops for biotic resistance. More than a hundred transgenic events and hundreds of cultivars resistant to herbivory insects, pathogenic viruses, and fungi have been developed by the heterologous expression of exogenous genes and RNAi, authorized for cultivation and market, and resulted in a significant reduction in yield loss and quality deterioration. However, the exploration of transgenic improvement for resistance to bacteria and nematodes by overexpression of endogenous genes and RNAi remains at the testing stage. Recent advances in RNAi and CRISPR/Cas technologies open up possibilities to improve the resistance of crops to pathogenic bacteria and plant parasitic nematodes, as well as other biotic constraints.
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Rodriguez Coy L, Plummer KM, Khalifa ME, MacDiarmid RM. Mycovirus-encoded suppressors of RNA silencing: Possible allies or enemies in the use of RNAi to control fungal disease in crops. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2022; 3:965781. [PMID: 37746227 PMCID: PMC10512228 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.965781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Plants, fungi, and many other eukaryotes have evolved an RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism that is key for regulating gene expression and the control of pathogens. RNAi inhibits gene expression, in a sequence-specific manner, by recognizing and deploying cognate double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) either from endogenous sources (e.g. pre-micro RNAs) or exogenous origin (e.g. viruses, dsRNA, or small interfering RNAs, siRNAs). Recent studies have demonstrated that fungal pathogens can transfer siRNAs into plant cells to suppress host immunity and aid infection, in a mechanism termed cross-kingdom RNAi. New technologies, based on RNAi are being developed for crop protection against insect pests, viruses, and more recently against fungal pathogens. One example, is host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), which is a mechanism whereby transgenic plants are modified to produce siRNAs or dsRNAs targeting key transcripts of plants, or their pathogens or pests. An alternative gene regulation strategy that also co-opts the silencing machinery is spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), in which dsRNAs or single-stranded RNAs (ssRNAs) are applied to target genes within a pathogen or pest. Fungi also use their RNA silencing machinery against mycoviruses (fungal viruses) and mycoviruses can deploy virus-encoded suppressors of RNAi (myco-VSRs) as a counter-defence. We propose that myco-VSRs may impact new dsRNA-based management methods, resulting in unintended outcomes, including suppression of management by HIGS or SIGS. Despite a large diversity of mycoviruses being discovered using high throughput sequencing, their biology is poorly understood. In particular, the prevalence of mycoviruses and the cellular effect of their encoded VSRs are under-appreciated when considering the deployment of HIGS and SIGS strategies. This review focuses on mycoviruses, their VSR activities in fungi, and the implications for control of pathogenic fungi using RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Rodriguez Coy
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection, Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Kim M. Plummer
- Australian Research Council Research Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection, Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Mahmoud E. Khalifa
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt
| | - Robin M. MacDiarmid
- BioProtection, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Kumar A, Joshi I, Changwal C, Sirohi A, Jain PK. Host-delivered RNAi-mediated silencing of the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) effector genes, Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23, confers resistance in Arabidopsis and impairs reproductive ability of the root-knot nematode. PLANTA 2022; 256:74. [PMID: 36083352 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-022-03977-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23 effector genes play a significant role during Meloidogyne incognita parasitism on Arabidopsis roots. The role of these genes was confirmed by demonstrating the decrease of the level of susceptibility of Arabidopsis by the silencing of Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23 genes using HD-RNAi technology. Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are the most damaging pathogens severely affecting global food production. The sustainable options to minimize menace of nematode populations through economically feasible measures are limited. Thus, the development of innovative and target-specific strategies that aid in their management is imperative. RNAi technology has emerged as a sustainable and target-specific alternative to control phytonematodes. Here, we characterized two novel subventral gland and dorsal gland-specific effectors, Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23, to determine their potential effectiveness in controlling M. incognita. Comparative developmental profiling using qRT-PCR revealed higher expression of both effectors in the adult nematode female. Furthermore, functional evaluation of Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23 dsRNA cassettes was performed using host-delivered RNAi (HD-RNAi) in Arabidopsis. The transgenic lines were examined against M. incognita, and the phenotypic effect of HD-RNAi was evident with a 61% and 51% reduction in gall formation in the Mi-msp10 and Mi-msp23 RNAi lines, respectively. A significant drop in the nematode adult females by 59% for Mi-msp10 and 49% for Mi-msp23-RNAi lines was observed. Similarly, production in egg masses decreased significantly by 76% (Mi-msp10) and 60% (Mi-msp23) for the RNAi lines, which eventually decreased the reproductive factor by 92% and 75%, respectively. The gene expression analysis showed a significant decrease in the transcript level by up to 72% (Mi-msp10) and 66% (Mi-msp23) in M. incognita females feeding on RNAi lines, providing further evidence of effective gene silencing. Overall, our findings provide useful information and support further development of RNAi-based strategies to control M. incognita.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Kumar
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Ila Joshi
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Chunoti Changwal
- ICAR-IARI, Division of Plant Physiology, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Anil Sirohi
- ICAR-IARI, Division of Nematology, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Pradeep K Jain
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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12
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Function of lipid binding proteins of parasitic helminths: still a long road. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1117-1129. [PMID: 35169885 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07463-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Infections with parasitic helminths cause severe debilitating and sometimes lethal diseases in humans and domestic animals on a global scale. Unable to synthesize de novo their own fatty acids and sterols, helminth parasites (nematodes, trematodes, cestodes) rely on their hosts for their supply. These organisms produce and secrete a wide range of lipid binding proteins that are, in most cases, structurally different from the ones found in their hosts, placing them as possible novel therapeutic targets. In this sense, a lot of effort has been made towards the structure determination of these proteins, but their precise function is still unknown. In this review, we aim to present the current knowledge on the functions of LBPs present in parasitic helminths as well as novel members of this highly heterogeneous group of proteins.
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13
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Smiley RW. Root-Lesion Nematodes Affecting Dryland Cereals in the Semiarid Pacific Northwest U.S.A. PLANT DISEASE 2021; 105:3324-3343. [PMID: 34236212 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-04-21-0883-fe] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) are parasites that invade and deteriorate roots, thereby reducing the efficiency of water and nutrient uptake. Pratylenchus neglectus and P. thornei are the two species that are most prevalent and cause reduced yields of rainfed wheat and barley in semiarid regions of the Pacific Northwest. They are particularly damaging where wheat and barley are produced without irrigation in areas receiving less than 450 mm (18 in.) of precipitation annually. This review is focused on the biology and management of P. neglectus and P. thornei in semiarid rainfed agriculture. Characteristics of climates, soils, and crop production systems are described as a preface to constraints placed upon management options. Discussions include the economic importance, host ranges, and protocols for sampling and species identification. Discussion of disease management options include crop rotation, genetic resistance and tolerance, planting date, trap and biofumigant crops, crop nutrition, chemical and biological nematicides, and tillage. Predictions for rainfed agriculture in a period of changing climate are presented, as are suggestions for important areas of research including crop genetics, nematode testing, and communication of results, Pratylenchus biology, mechanisms of resistance, the phytobiome, and closing the "yield gap" between actual and attainable yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard W Smiley
- Emeritus Professor of Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center, Pendleton, OR, U.S.A
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14
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Rajput M, Choudhary K, Kumar M, Vivekanand V, Chawade A, Ortiz R, Pareek N. RNA Interference and CRISPR/Cas Gene Editing for Crop Improvement: Paradigm Shift towards Sustainable Agriculture. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10091914. [PMID: 34579446 PMCID: PMC8467553 DOI: 10.3390/plants10091914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid population growth, there is an urgent need for innovative crop improvement approaches to meet the increasing demand for food. Classical crop improvement approaches involve, however, a backbreaking process that cannot equipoise with increasing crop demand. RNA-based approaches i.e., RNAi-mediated gene regulation and the site-specific nuclease-based CRISPR/Cas9 system for gene editing has made advances in the efficient targeted modification in many crops for the higher yield and resistance to diseases and different stresses. In functional genomics, RNA interference (RNAi) is a propitious gene regulatory approach that plays a significant role in crop improvement by permitting the downregulation of gene expression by small molecules of interfering RNA without affecting the expression of other genes. Gene editing technologies viz. the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) have appeared prominently as a powerful tool for precise targeted modification of nearly all crops' genome sequences to generate variation and accelerate breeding efforts. In this regard, the review highlights the diverse roles and applications of RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 system as powerful technologies to improve agronomically important plants to enhance crop yields and increase tolerance to environmental stress (biotic or abiotic). Ultimately, these technologies can prove to be important in view of global food security and sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Rajput
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer 305801, Rajasthan, India; (M.R.); (K.C.); (M.K.)
| | - Khushboo Choudhary
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer 305801, Rajasthan, India; (M.R.); (K.C.); (M.K.)
| | - Manish Kumar
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer 305801, Rajasthan, India; (M.R.); (K.C.); (M.K.)
| | - V. Vivekanand
- Centre for Energy and Environment, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur 302017, Rajasthan, India;
| | - Aakash Chawade
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 101, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden;
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (N.P.)
| | - Rodomiro Ortiz
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 101, 230 53 Alnarp, Sweden;
| | - Nidhi Pareek
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer 305801, Rajasthan, India; (M.R.); (K.C.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (N.P.)
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15
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Baig MS, Akhtar S, Khan JA. Engineering tolerance to CLCuD in transgenic Gossypium hirsutum cv. HS6 expressing Cotton leaf curl Multan virus-C4 intron hairpin. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14172. [PMID: 34238948 PMCID: PMC8266814 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93502-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD), caused by begomoviruses in combination with betasatellite molecule, has adversely affected cotton industry of Indian subcontinent. To devise a CLCuD-control strategy, RNAi-mediated approach was followed in this study. Gossypium hirsutum cv. HS6 plants were transformed with intron-hairpin RNAi (ihpRNAi-C4) construct carrying silencing suppressor C4 gene of Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV). Efficacy of the construct in imparting CLCuD resistance was evaluated in transgenic (T0, T1) cotton lines. Accumulation of CLCuMuV/betasatellite and attenuation of CLCuD symptoms in the transgenic lines were monitored at different times interval after virus inoculation. Northern hybridization revealed the expression of C4-gene derived siRNA. Expression of the ihpRNAi transcript was recorded higher in transgenic lines expressing siRNA which supposedly targeted the C4 gene. A significant delay in detection of virus as well as betasatellite was observed in the transgenic lines. At 30 days post inoculation (dpi), none of the lines tested positive. At 45 dpi, however, it could be detected in few lines having much lower titre as compared to non-transformed control plants. Notably, till 60 dpi, no significant progression of the virus/betasatellite DNA was observed and the plants did not exhibit any characteristic CLCuD symptoms. A tolerance phenomenon leading to escape of CLCuD symptoms in the transformed cotton was described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirza S Baig
- Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India
| | - Sadia Akhtar
- Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Jawaid A Khan
- Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India.
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16
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Dutta TK, Papolu PK, Singh D, Sreevathsa R, Rao U. Expression interference of a number of Heterodera avenae conserved genes perturbs nematode parasitic success in Triticum aestivum. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 301:110670. [PMID: 33218636 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera avenae is distributed worldwide and causes substantial damage in bread wheat, Triticum aestivum. This nematode is extremely difficult to manage because of its prolonged persistence as unhatched eggs encased in cysts. Due to its sustainable and target-specific nature, RNA interference (RNAi)-based strategy has gained unprecedented importance for pest control. To date, RNAi strategy has not been exploited to manage H. avenae in wheat. In the present study, 40 H. avenae target genes with different molecular function were rationally selected for in vitro soaking analysis in order to assess their susceptibility to RNAi. In contrast to target-specific downregulation of 18 genes, 7 genes were upregulated and 15 genes showed unaltered expression (although combinatorial soaking showed some of these genes are RNAi susceptible), suggesting that a few of the target genes were refractory or recalcitrant to RNAi. However, RNAi of 37 of these genes negatively altered nematode behavior in terms of reduced penetration, development and reproduction in wheat. Subsequently, wheat plants were transformed with seven H. avenae target genes (that showed greatest abrogation of nematode parasitic success) for host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) analysis. Transformed plants were molecularly characterized by PCR, RT-qPCR and Southern hybridization. Production of target gene-specific double- and single-stranded RNA (dsRNA/siRNA) was detected in transformed plants. Transgenic expression of galectin, cathepsin L, vap1, serpin, flp12, RanBPM and chitinase genes conferred 33.24-72.4 % reduction in H. avenae multiplication in T1 events with single copy ones exhibiting greatest reduction. A similar degree of resistance observed in T2 plants indicated the consistent HIGS effect in the subsequent generations. Intriguingly, cysts isolated from RNAi plants were of smaller size with translucent cuticle compared to normal size, dark brown control cysts, suggesting H. avenae developmental retardation due to HIGS. Our study reinforces the potential of HIGS to manage nematode problems in crop plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar K Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Pradeep K Papolu
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Divya Singh
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Rohini Sreevathsa
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Uma Rao
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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17
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Comparative Genomics Reveals Novel Target Genes towards Specific Control of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11111347. [PMID: 33202889 PMCID: PMC7696266 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes cause extensive annual yield losses to worldwide agricultural production. Most cultivated plants have no known resistance against nematodes and the few bearing a resistance gene can be overcome by certain species. Chemical methods that have been deployed to control nematodes have largely been banned from use due to their poor specificity and high toxicity. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of cleaner and more specific control methods. Recent advances in nematode genomics, including in phytoparasitic species, provide an unprecedented opportunity to identify genes and functions specific to these pests. Using phylogenomics, we compared 61 nematode genomes, including 16 for plant-parasitic species and identified more than 24,000 protein families specific to these parasites. In the genome of Meloidogyne incognita, one of the most devastating plant parasites, we found ca. 10,000 proteins with orthologs restricted only to phytoparasitic species and no further homology in protein databases. Among these phytoparasite-specific proteins, ca. 1000 shared the same properties as known secreted effectors involved in essential parasitic functions. Of these, 68 were novel and showed strong expression during the endophytic phase of the nematode life cycle, based on both RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses. Besides effector candidates, transcription-related and neuro-perception functions were enriched in phytoparasite-specific proteins, revealing interesting targets for nematode control methods. This phylogenomics analysis constitutes a unique resource for the further understanding of the genetic basis of nematode adaptation to phytoparasitism and for the development of more efficient control methods.
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18
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Banakar P, Hada A, Papolu PK, Rao U. Simultaneous RNAi Knockdown of Three FMRFamide-Like Peptide Genes, Mi-flp1, Mi-flp12, and Mi-flp18 Provides Resistance to Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:573916. [PMID: 33193182 PMCID: PMC7644837 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.573916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, is a devastating sedentary endoparasite that causes considerable damage to agricultural crops worldwide. Modern approaches targeting the physiological processes have confirmed the potential of FMRFamide like peptide (FLPs) family of neuromotor genes for nematode management. Here, we assessed the knock down effect of Mi-flp1, Mi-flp12, and Mi-flp18 of M. incognita and their combinatorial fusion cassette on infection and reproduction. Comparative developmental profiling revealed higher expression of all three FLPs in the infective 2nd stage juveniles (J2s). Further, Mi-flp1 expression in J2s could be localized in the ventral pharyngeal nerves near to metacarpal bulb of the central nervous system. In vitro RNAi silencing of three FLPs and their fusion cassette in M. incognita J2s showed that combinatorial silencing is the most effective and affected nematode host recognition followed by reduced penetration ability and subsequent infection into tomato and adzuki bean roots. Northern blot analysis of J2s soaked in fusion dsRNA revealed the presence of siRNA of all three target FLPs establishing successful processing of fusion gene dsRNA in the J2s. Further, evaluation of the fusion gene cassette is done through host-delivered RNAi in tobacco. Transgenic plants with fusion gene RNA-expressing vector were generated in which transgene integration was confirmed by PCR, qRT-PCR, and Southern blot analysis. Transcript accumulation of three FLPs constituting the fusion gene was reduced in the M. incognita females collected from the transgenic plants that provided additional evidence for successful gene silencing. Evaluation of positive T1 transgenic lines against M. incognita brought down the disease burden as indicated by various disease parameters that ultimately reduced the nematode multiplication factor (MF) by 85% compared to the wild-type plants. The study establishes the possibility of simultaneous silencing of more than one FLPs gene for effective management of M. incognita.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Banakar
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.,Department of Nematology and Centre for Bio-Nanotechnology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India
| | - Alkesh Hada
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Pradeep K Papolu
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Uma Rao
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
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19
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20
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Tian B, Li J, Vodkin LO, Todd TC, Finer JJ, Trick HN. Host-derived gene silencing of parasite fitness genes improves resistance to soybean cyst nematodes in stable transgenic soybean. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2019; 132:2651-2662. [PMID: 31230117 PMCID: PMC6707959 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-019-03379-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Soybean expressing small interfering RNA of SCN improved plant resistance to SCN consistently, and small RNA-seq analysis revealed a threshold of siRNA expression required for resistance ability. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is one of the most destructive pests limiting soybean production worldwide, with estimated losses of $1 billion dollars annually in the USA alone. RNA interference (RNAi) has become a powerful tool for silencing gene expression. We report here that the expression of hairpin RNAi constructs, derived from two SCN genes related to reproduction and fitness, HgY25 and HgPrp17, enhances resistance to SCN in stably transformed soybean plants. The analyses of T3 to T5 generations of stable transgenic soybeans by molecular strategies and next-generation sequencing confirmed the presence of specific short interfering RNAs complementary to the target SCN genes. Bioassays performed on transgenic soybean lines targeting SCN HgY25 and HgPrp17 fitness genes showed significant reductions (up to 73%) for eggs/g root in the T3 and T4 homozygous transgenic lines. Targeted mRNAs of SCN eggs collected from the transgenic soybean lines were efficiently down-regulated, as confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. Based on the small RNA-seq data and bioassays, it is our hypothesis that a threshold of small interfering RNA molecules is required to significantly reduce SCN populations feeding on the host plants. Our results demonstrated that host-derived gene silencing of essential SCN fitness genes could be an effective strategy for enhancing resistance in crop plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Tian
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, 1712 Claflin Road, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jiarui Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, 1712 Claflin Road, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
- Innatrix Inc, 6 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Lila O Vodkin
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, 1201 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Timothy C Todd
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, 1712 Claflin Road, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - John J Finer
- Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, OARDC, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH, 44691, USA
| | - Harold N Trick
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, 1712 Claflin Road, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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21
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Shivakumara TN, Dutta TK, Chaudhary S, von Reuss SH, Williamson VM, Rao U. Homologs of Caenorhabditis elegans Chemosensory Genes Have Roles in Behavior and Chemotaxis in the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2019; 32:876-887. [PMID: 30759351 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-08-18-0226-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Nematode chemosensation is a vital component of their host-seeking behavior. The globally important phytonematode Meloidogyne incognita perceives and responds (via sensory organs such as amphids and phasmids) differentially to various chemical cues emanating from the rhizosphere during the course of host finding. However, compared with the free-living worm Caenorhabditis elegans, the molecular intricacies behind the plant nematode chemotaxis are a yet-unexploited territory. In the present study, four putative chemosensory genes of M. incognita, namely, Mi-odr-1, Mi-odr-3, Mi-tax-2, and Mi-tax-4 were molecularly characterized. Mi-odr-1 mRNA was found to be expressed in the cell bodies of amphidial neurons and phasmids of M. incognita. Mi-odr-1, Mi-odr-3, Mi-tax-2, and Mi-tax-4 transcripts were highly expressed in early life stages of M. incognita, consistent with a role of these genes in host recognition. Functional characterization of Mi-odr-1, Mi-odr-3, Mi-tax-2, and Mi-tax-4 via RNA interference revealed behavioral defects in M. incognita and perturbed attraction to host roots in Pluronic gel medium. Knockdown of Mi-odr-1, Mi-odr-3, Mi-tax-2, and Mi-tax-4 resulted in defective chemotaxis of M. incognita to various volatile compounds (alcohol, ketone, aromatic compound, ester, thiazole, pyrazine), nonvolatiles of plant origin (carbohydrate, phytohormone, organic acid, amino acid, phenolic), and host root exudates in an agar-Pluronic gel-based assay plate. In addition, ascaroside-mediated signaling was impeded by downregulation of chemosensory genes. This new information that behavioral response in M. incognita is modulated by specific olfactory genes can be extended to understand chemotaxis in other nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tushar K Dutta
- 1 Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Sonam Chaudhary
- 1 Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Stephan H von Reuss
- 2 Institute of Chemistry, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Avenue de Bellevaux 51, Switzerland
| | - Valerie M Williamson
- 3 Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A
| | - Uma Rao
- 1 Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
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22
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Chaudhary S, Dutta TK, Tyagi N, Shivakumara TN, Papolu PK, Chobhe KA, Rao U. Host-induced silencing of Mi-msp-1 confers resistance to root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in eggplant. Transgenic Res 2019; 28:327-340. [PMID: 30955133 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-019-00126-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi)-based host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) is emerging as a novel, efficient and target-specific tool to combat phytonematode infection in crop plants. Mi-msp-1, an effector gene expressed in the subventral pharyngeal gland cells of Meloidogyne incognita plays an important role in the parasitic process. Mi-msp-1 effector is conserved in few of the species of root-knot nematodes (RKNs) and does not share considerable homology with the other phytonematodes, thereby making it a suitable target for HIGS with minimal off-target effects. Six putative eggplant transformants harbouring a single copy RNAi transgene of Mi-msp-1 was generated. Stable expression of the transgene was detected in T1, T2 and T3 transgenic lines for which a detrimental effect on RKN penetration, development and reproduction was documented upon challenge infection with nematode juveniles. The post-parasitic nematode stages extracted from the transgenic plants showed long-term RNAi effect in terms of targeted downregulation of Mi-msp-1. These findings suggest that HIGS of Mi-msp-1 enhances nematode resistance in eggplant and protect the plant against RKN parasitism at very early stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Chaudhary
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.,School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, India
| | - Tushar K Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Nidhi Tyagi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | | | - Pradeep K Papolu
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Kapil A Chobhe
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Uma Rao
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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Ali MA, Shahzadi M, Zahoor A, Dababat AA, Toktay H, Bakhsh A, Nawaz MA, Li H. Resistance to Cereal Cyst Nematodes in Wheat and Barley: An Emphasis on Classical and Modern Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E432. [PMID: 30669499 PMCID: PMC6359373 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cereal cyst nematodes (CCNs) are among the most important nematode pests that limit production of small grain cereals like wheat and barley. These nematodes alone are estimated to reduce production of crops by 10% globally. This necessitates a huge enhancement of nematode resistance in cereal crops against CCNs. Nematode resistance in wheat and barley in combination with higher grain yields has been a preferential research area for cereal nematologists. This usually involved the targeted genetic exploitations through natural means of classical selection breeding of resistant genotypes and finding quantitative trait luci (QTLs) associated with resistance genes. These improvements were based on available genetic diversity among the crop plants. Recently, genome-wide association studies have widely been exploited to associate nematode resistance or susceptibility with particular regions of the genome. Use of biotechnological tools through the application of various transgenic strategies for enhancement of nematode resistance in various crop plants including wheat and barley had also been an important area of research. These modern approaches primarily include the use of gene silencing, exploitation of nematode effector genes, proteinase inhibitors, chemodisruptive peptides and a combination of one or more of these approaches. Furthermore, the perspective genome editing technologies including CRISPR-Cas9 could also be helpful for improving CCN resistance in wheat and barley. The information provided in this review will be helpful to enhance resistance against CCNs and will attract the attention of the scientific community towards this neglected area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Amjad Ali
- Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
| | - Mahpara Shahzadi
- Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
| | - Adil Zahoor
- Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
| | | | - Halil Toktay
- Department of Plant Production and Technologies, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Nigde 51240, Turkey.
| | - Allah Bakhsh
- Department of Agricultural Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Nigde 51240, Turkey.
| | | | - Hongjie Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Molecular Breeding, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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Chen Z, He J, Luo P, Li X, Gao Y. Production of functional double-stranded RNA using a prokaryotic expression system in Escherichia coli. Microbiologyopen 2018; 8:e00787. [PMID: 30592182 PMCID: PMC6612555 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a nucleic acid metabolism system utilized for the post-translational regulation of endogenous genes or for defense against exogenous RNA or transposable elements. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated RNAi shows broad application prospects to improve existing plant traits and combat invading pathogens or pests. To improve dsRNA transcriptional efficiency using a prokaryotic expression system, Trxz gene, an essential gene for the early development of chloroplasts in Arabidopsis thaliana, was chosen for a functional study. Two types of recombinant expression vectors, pDP-Trxz and phP-Trxz-N/L, were constructed to generate dsTrxz, the dsRNA which specifically induces Trxz gene silencing. Gel electrophoresis tests showed that phP vectors performed better and produced more dsRNA than the pDP vector under the same conditions. Purification of dsTrxz by enzymatic digestion indicated that highly purified dsRNA can be obtained through the use of DNase enzymatic hydrolysis assay. To confirm the knockdown effect of the dsRNA, a root immersion assay was performed, and we found that the root immersion culture could continue to affect the growth and development of A. thaliana. This included inhibiting the development of new leaves, causing weak plant development, leaf whitening, and other symptoms. This indicated that in vitro expressed dsRNA can be absorbed through Arabidopsis roots and can continue to trigger Trxz gene silencing. To delay dsRNA degradation and extend the effectiveness of RNAi, nanomaterial layered double hydroxide (LDH)-mediated BioClay was performed. We found that LDH-mediated BioClay alleviates the degree of dsRNA degradation, which provides a new idea for the storage and transportation of dsRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjun Chen
- College of Life Science and TechnologyGansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Jindian He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, College of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Pan Luo
- College of Life Science and TechnologyGansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Xiangkai Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, College of Life SciencesLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Yuan Gao
- College of Life Science and TechnologyGansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
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Kim J, Yang R, Chang C, Park Y, Tucker ML. The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita produces a functional mimic of the Arabidopsis INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION signaling peptide. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:3009-3021. [PMID: 29648636 PMCID: PMC5972575 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA) is a signaling peptide that regulates cell separation in Arabidopsis including floral organ abscission and lateral root emergence. IDA is highly conserved in dicotyledonous flowering plant genomes. IDA-like sequences were also found in the genomic sequences of root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., which are globally deleterious pathogens of agriculturally important plants, but the role of these genes is unknown. Exogenous treatment of the Arabidopsis ida mutant with synthetic peptide identical to the M. incognita IDA-like 1 (MiIDL1) protein sequence minus its N-terminal signal peptide recovered both the abscission and root architecture defects. Constitutive expression of the full-length MiIDL1 open reading frame in the ida mutant substantially recovered the delayed floral organ abscission phenotype whereas transformants expressing a construct missing the MiIDL1 signal peptide retained the delayed abscission phenotype. Importantly, wild-type Arabidopsis plants harboring an MiIDL1-RNAi construct and infected with nematodes had approximately 40% fewer galls per root than control plants. Thus, the MiIDL1 gene produces a functional IDA mimic that appears to play a role in successful gall development on Arabidopsis roots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joonyup Kim
- Soybean Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MD, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Bioscience Research Bldg, University of Maryland, MD, USA
- Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Department of Horticulture Bioscience, Pusan National University, Miryang, Republic of Korea
| | - Ronghui Yang
- Soybean Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Caren Chang
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Bioscience Research Bldg, University of Maryland, MD, USA
| | - Younghoon Park
- Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Department of Horticulture Bioscience, Pusan National University, Miryang, Republic of Korea
| | - Mark L Tucker
- Soybean Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, MD, USA
- Correspondence:
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Blanchard A, Guégnard F, Charvet CL, Crisford A, Courtot E, Sauvé C, Harmache A, Duguet T, O’Connor V, Castagnone-Sereno P, Reaves B, Wolstenholme AJ, Beech RN, Holden-Dye L, Neveu C. Deciphering the molecular determinants of cholinergic anthelmintic sensitivity in nematodes: When novel functional validation approaches highlight major differences between the model Caenorhabditis elegans and parasitic species. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006996. [PMID: 29719008 PMCID: PMC5931475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic agonists such as levamisole and pyrantel are widely used as anthelmintics to treat parasitic nematode infestations. These drugs elicit spastic paralysis by activating acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) expressed in nematode body wall muscles. In the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, genetic screens led to the identification of five genes encoding levamisole-sensitive-AChR (L-AChR) subunits: unc-38, unc-63, unc-29, lev-1 and lev-8. These subunits form a functional L-AChR when heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Here we show that the majority of parasitic species that are sensitive to levamisole lack a gene orthologous to C. elegans lev-8. This raises important questions concerning the properties of the native receptor that constitutes the target for cholinergic anthelmintics. We demonstrate that the closely related ACR-8 subunit from phylogenetically distant animal and plant parasitic nematode species functionally substitutes for LEV-8 in the C. elegans L-AChR when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The importance of ACR-8 in parasitic nematode sensitivity to cholinergic anthelmintics is reinforced by a ‘model hopping’ approach in which we demonstrate the ability of ACR-8 from the hematophagous parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus to fully restore levamisole sensitivity, and to confer high sensitivity to pyrantel, when expressed in the body wall muscle of C. elegans lev-8 null mutants. The critical role of acr-8 to in vivo drug sensitivity is substantiated by the successful demonstration of RNAi gene silencing for Hco-acr-8 which reduced the sensitivity of H. contortus larvae to levamisole. Intriguingly, the pyrantel sensitivity remained unchanged thus providing new evidence for distinct modes of action of these important anthelmintics in parasitic species versus C. elegans. More broadly, this highlights the limits of C. elegans as a predictive model to decipher cholinergic agonist targets from parasitic nematode species and provides key molecular insight to inform the discovery of next generation anthelmintic compounds. Parasitic nematodes have global health and economic impacts. They infect animals, including livestock, humans, and plants including all major food crops. Their control in human and veterinary medicine is reliant on anthelmintic drugs but this is now challenged by resistant worms especially in livestock. Importantly, for anthelmintics such as levamisole and other cholinergic agonists, resistance appears to be less frequent stressing the need to investigate their molecular target in parasitic nematodes. The levamisole receptor was first identified in the free-living model nematode C. elegans but it is now becoming apparent that this is not a good predictor for many parasitic species. In particular we have found that the LEV-8 subunit which is involved in levamisole sensitivity in C. elegans, is not present in many levamisole-sensitive parasitic species. Here we used heterologous expression systems and gene silencing to provide the functional in vivo demonstration that the ACR-8 subunit, which is not an essential component of the levamisole receptor in C. elegans, has a critical role in the levamisole sensitivity of parasitic nematodes. This has important significance for understanding the molecular targets of cholinergic anthelmintics and addresses the increasing challenge of drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Anna Crisford
- Biological Sciences, Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Elise Courtot
- ISP, INRA, Université Tours, UMR1282, Nouzilly, France
| | | | | | - Thomas Duguet
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Québec, Canada
| | - Vincent O’Connor
- Biological Sciences, Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Barbara Reaves
- Department of Infectious Disease & Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Adrian J. Wolstenholme
- Department of Infectious Disease & Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Robin N. Beech
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Québec, Canada
| | - Lindy Holden-Dye
- Biological Sciences, Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Cedric Neveu
- ISP, INRA, Université Tours, UMR1282, Nouzilly, France
- * E-mail:
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Knight AL, Light DM, Judd GJR, Witzgall P. Pear Ester – From Discovery to Delivery for Improved Codling Moth Management. ACS SYMPOSIUM SERIES 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/bk-2018-1294.ch008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan L. Knight
- Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 5230 Konnowac Pass Road, Wapato, Washington 98951, United States
| | - Douglas M. Light
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany California 94710, United States
| | - Gary J. R. Judd
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland Research and Development Centre, 4200 Highway 97, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Peter Witzgall
- Division of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
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Kakrana A, Kumar A, Satheesh V, Abdin MZ, Subramaniam K, Bhattacharya RC, Srinivasan R, Sirohi A, Jain PK. Identification, Validation and Utilization of Novel Nematode-Responsive Root-Specific Promoters in Arabidopsis for Inducing Host-Delivered RNAi Mediated Root-Knot Nematode Resistance. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:2049. [PMID: 29312363 PMCID: PMC5733009 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne incognita, is an obligate, sedentary endoparasite that infects a large number of crops and severely affects productivity. The commonly used nematode control strategies have their own limitations. Of late, RNA interference (RNAi) has become a popular approach for the development of nematode resistance in plants. Transgenic crops capable of expressing dsRNAs, specifically in roots for disrupting the parasitic process, offer an effective and efficient means of producing resistant crops. We identified nematode-responsive and root-specific (NRRS) promoters by using microarray data from the public domain and known conserved cis-elements. A set of 51 NRRS genes was identified which was narrowed down further on the basis of presence of cis-elements combined with minimal expression in the absence of nematode infection. The comparative analysis of promoters from the enriched NRRS set, along with earlier reported nematode-responsive genes, led to the identification of specific cis-elements. The promoters of two candidate genes were used to generate transgenic plants harboring promoter GUS constructs and tested in planta against nematodes. Both promoters showed preferential expression upon nematode infection, exclusively in the root in one and galls in the other. One of these NRRS promoters was used to drive the expression of splicing factor, a nematode-specific gene, for generating host-delivered RNAi-mediated nematode-resistant plants. Transgenic lines expressing dsRNA of splicing factor under the NRRS promoter exhibited upto a 32% reduction in number of galls compared to control plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atul Kakrana
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Anil Kumar
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Centre for Transgenic Plant Development, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, India
| | | | - M. Z. Abdin
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Centre for Transgenic Plant Development, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, India
| | | | | | | | - Anil Sirohi
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Pradeep K. Jain
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
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Li Y, Wang K, Lu Q, Du J, Wang Z, Wang D, Sun B, Li H. Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing a hairpin RNAi construct of a nematode Rs-cps gene exhibit enhanced resistance to Radopholus similis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13126. [PMID: 29030572 PMCID: PMC5640634 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13024-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Burrowing nematodes (Radopholus similis) cause severe harm in many agronomic and horticultural crops and are very difficult to manage. Cathepsin S is one of the most important cysteine proteinases and plays key roles in nematodes and many other parasites. To evaluate the effect of in planta RNAi on the control of this nematode, a specific fragment from the protease gene, cathepsin S (Rs-cps), was cloned into the binary vector pFGC5941 in the forward and reverse orientations to construct recombinant plant RNAi vectors. Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing Rs-cps dsRNA were obtained and studied. The transcript abundance of Rs-cps dsRNA appeared to be diverse in the different transgenic lines. Moreover, the bioassay results revealed that Rs-cps transgenic N. benthamiana plants were resistant to R. similis and the transcription level of Rs-cps in R. similis was drastically decreased. In addition, the reproduction and hatching rate of R. similis isolated from the Rs-cps transgenic plants were also significantly reduced. Our results suggest that Rs-cps is essential for the reproduction and pathogenicity of R. similis. This is the first study to employ in planta RNAi approach to target the Rs-cps gene for the control of plant parasitic nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China
| | - Ke Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China
| | - Qisen Lu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Plant Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China
| | - Zhenyue Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China
| | - Desen Wang
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, 08901, New Jersey, USA
| | - Bingjian Sun
- Department of Plant Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China.
| | - Honglian Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China.
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China.
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Chan SY, Snow JW. Formidable challenges to the notion of biologically important roles for dietary small RNAs in ingesting mammals. GENES AND NUTRITION 2017; 12:13. [PMID: 29308096 PMCID: PMC5753850 DOI: 10.1186/s12263-017-0561-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The notion of uptake of active diet-derived small RNAs (sRNAs) in recipient organisms could have significant implications for our understanding of oral therapeutics and nutrition, for the safe use of RNA interference (RNAi) in agricultural biotechnology, and for ecological relationships. Yet, the transfer and subsequent regulation of gene activity by diet-derived sRNAs in ingesting mammals are still heavily debated. Here, we synthesize current information based on multiple independent studies of mammals, invertebrates, and plants. Rigorous assessment of these data emphasize that uptake of active dietary sRNAs is neither a robust nor a prevalent mechanism to maintain steady-state levels in higher organisms. While disagreement still continues regarding whether such transfer may occur in specialized contexts, concerns about technical difficulties and a lack of consensus on appropriate methods have led to questions regarding the reproducibility and biologic significance of some seemingly positive results. For any continuing investigations, concerted efforts should be made to establish a strong mechanistic basis for potential effects of dietary sRNAs and to agree on methodological guidelines for realizing such proof. Such processes would ensure proper interpretation of studies aiming to prove dietary sRNA activity in mammals and inform potential for application in therapeutics and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Y Chan
- Center for Pulmonary Vascular Biology and Medicine, Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, BST 1704.2, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Jonathan W Snow
- Department of Biology, Barnard College, New York, NY 10027 USA
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Wang X, Wang X, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Wang F, Wang C, Lu Y, Wu F, Zhang W, Wu J. The regulatory role of Mcl-1 in apoptosis of mouse peritoneal macrophage infected with M. tuberculosis strains that differ in virulence. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2017; 10:7565-7577. [PMID: 31966601 PMCID: PMC6965215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Myeloid cell leukaemia-1 (Mcl-1) is a valuable target in tumour treatments. However, several reports have suggested that Mcl-1 may play a role in tuberculosis infection. Therefore, we investigated the function of Mcl-1 in tuberculosis infection and the underlying regulatory mechanism. METHODS Mcl-1-shRNA was used to down-regulate Mcl-1 expression in BCG-, H37Ra-, H37Rv- and XJ-MTB-infected mouse peritoneal macrophages. TUNEL staining detected macrophage apoptosis. The colony-forming units (CFUs) were determined to assess the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) clearance after down-regulating Mcl-1. Immunohistochemical analysis of Mcl-1 expression in mouse peritoneal macrophages was performed. Haematoxylin and eosin staining detected pathologic damage of the liver, spleen, lung, and kidney in mice. Real-time PCR and Western blotting determined the expression of cytochrome-c in Mcl-1-shRNA-treated mouse peritoneal macrophages infected with MTB strains that differ in virulence. RESULTS Mcl-1-shRNA significantly promoted host macrophage apoptosis and cytochrome-c induction, and the apoptotic induction of the XJ-MTB and H37Rv strains was stronger than the H37Ra and BCG strains (P<0.05). Apoptotic protein cytochrome-c levels continued to increase in mouse peritoneal macrophages infected MTB before and after treatment, Caspase-8 levels only slightly increased after Mcl-1-shRNA-treated (P<0.05), but the increase of Cytochrome-c have no significant differences compared with Caspase-8 levels (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Mcl-1-shRNA intervention effectively down-regulated Mcl-1 expression, significantly increased host macrophage apoptosis, and induced cytochrome-c expression in mouse peritoneal macrophages infected with MTB strains of different virulence, and these changes were influenced by the virulence of the MTB strains. The mitochondria-mediated intrinsic apoptotic pathway play an important role before Mcl-1-shRNA-trated, and then with the extrinsic apoptotic pathway co-regulate host macrophage apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Wang
- Medical College of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Department of PathophysiologyShihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xinmin Wang
- Medical College of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Department of Urinary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Department of PathophysiologyShihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Le Zhang
- Medical College of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Department of PathophysiologyShihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yuqing Zhang
- Medical College of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Department of PathophysiologyShihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Feiyu Wang
- Medical College of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Department of PathophysiologyShihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chan Wang
- Medical College of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Department of PathophysiologyShihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yang Lu
- Medical College of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Department of PathophysiologyShihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Fang Wu
- Medical College of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Department of PathophysiologyShihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Wanjiang Zhang
- Medical College of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Department of PathophysiologyShihezi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Jiangdong Wu
- Medical College of Shihezi UniversityShihezi, Xinjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Department of PathophysiologyShihezi, Xinjiang, China
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Banerjee S, Banerjee A, Gill SS, Gupta OP, Dahuja A, Jain PK, Sirohi A. RNA Interference: A Novel Source of Resistance to Combat Plant Parasitic Nematodes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:834. [PMID: 28580003 PMCID: PMC5437379 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Plant parasitic nematodes cause severe damage and yield loss in major crops all over the world. Available control strategies include use of insecticides/nematicides but these have proved detrimental to the environment, while other strategies like crop rotation and resistant cultivars have serious limitations. This scenario provides an opportunity for the utilization of technological advances like RNA interference (RNAi) to engineer resistance against these devastating parasites. First demonstrated in the model free living nematode, Caenorhabtidis elegans; the phenomenon of RNAi has been successfully used to suppress essential genes of plant parasitic nematodes involved in parasitism, nematode development and mRNA metabolism. Synthetic neurotransmitants mixed with dsRNA solutions are used for in vitro RNAi in plant parasitic nematodes with significant success. However, host delivered in planta RNAi has proved to be a pioneering phenomenon to deliver dsRNAs to feeding nematodes and silence the target genes to achieve resistance. Highly enriched genomic databases are exploited to limit off target effects and ensure sequence specific silencing. Technological advances like gene stacking and use of nematode inducible and tissue specific promoters can further enhance the utility of RNAi based transgenics against plant parasitic nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar Banerjee
- Division of Nematology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR)New Delhi, India
- Centre for Biotechnology, Maharshi Dayanand UniversityRohtak, India
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR)New Delhi, India
| | - Anamika Banerjee
- Division of Nematology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR)New Delhi, India
| | | | - Om P. Gupta
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR)New Delhi, India
| | - Anil Dahuja
- Division of Biochemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR)New Delhi, India
| | - Pradeep K. Jain
- National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology (ICAR)New Delhi, India
| | - Anil Sirohi
- Division of Nematology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR)New Delhi, India
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33
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Chan SY, Snow JW. Uptake and impact of natural diet-derived small RNA in invertebrates: Implications for ecology and agriculture. RNA Biol 2017; 14:402-414. [PMID: 27763816 PMCID: PMC5411125 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2016.1248329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The putative transfer and gene regulatory activities of diet-derived small RNAs (sRNAs) in ingesting animals are still debated. The existence of natural uptake of diet-derived sRNA by invertebrate species could have significant implication for our understanding of ecological relationships and could synergize with efforts to use RNA interference (RNAi) technology in agriculture. Here, we synthesize information gathered from studies in invertebrates using natural or artificial dietary delivery of sRNA and from studies of sRNA in vertebrate animals and plants to review our current understanding of uptake and impact of natural diet-derived sRNA on invertebrates. Our understanding has been influenced and sometimes confounded by the diversity of invertebrates and ingested plants studied, our limited insights into how gene expression may be modulated by dietary sRNAs at the mechanistic level, and the paucity of studies focusing directly on natural uptake of sRNA. As such, we suggest 2 strategies to investigate this phenomenon more comprehensively and thus facilitate the realization of its potentially broad impact on ecology and agriculture in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Y. Chan
- Center for Pulmonary Vascular Biology and Medicine, Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Kumari C, Dutta TK, Chaudhary S, Banakar P, Papolu PK, Rao U. Molecular characterization of FMRFamide-like peptides in Meloidogyne graminicola and analysis of their knockdown effect on nematode infectivity. Gene 2017; 619:50-60. [PMID: 28366833 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The rice root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola, seriously impairs the growth and yield of rice which is an important staple food worldwide. The disruption of neuropeptide signalling leading to attenuation in nematode behaviour and thereby perturbed infection, offers an attractive alternative to control nematodes. In this direction, the present study was aimed at mining of putative FMRFamide-like peptides (FLPs) from the transcriptomic dataset of M. graminicola followed by characterization of those FLPs via sequencing of PCR products, qRT-PCR and Southern hybridization analysis. We have characterized nine flp genes (flp-1, flp-3, flp-6, flp-7, flp-11, flp-12, flp-14, flp-16 and flp-18) and a partial neuropeptide receptor gene (flp-18 GPCR) from M. graminicola in the present study. In addition, in situ localization revealed the expression of flp-1 and flp-7 in neurons posterior to the circumpharyngeal nerve ring of M. graminicola. In vitro silencing of nine flp genes and flp-18 GPCR in M. graminicola J2 and their subsequent infection in rice and wheat roots demonstrated the reduced penetration ability of FLP silenced worms which underscores the potential of the FLPergic system as a broad-spectrum target to manage the root-knot nematode problem in rice-wheat cropping system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanchal Kumari
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Tushar K Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Sonam Chaudhary
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Prakash Banakar
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Pradeep K Papolu
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Uma Rao
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
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Shivakumara TN, Chaudhary S, Kamaraju D, Dutta TK, Papolu PK, Banakar P, Sreevathsa R, Singh B, Manjaiah KM, Rao U. Host-Induced Silencing of Two Pharyngeal Gland Genes Conferred Transcriptional Alteration of Cell Wall-Modifying Enzymes of Meloidogyne incognita vis-à-vis Perturbed Nematode Infectivity in Eggplant. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:473. [PMID: 28424727 PMCID: PMC5371666 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The complex parasitic strategy of Meloidogyne incognita appears to involve simultaneous expression of its pharyngeal gland-specific effector genes in order to colonize the host plants. Research reports related to effector crosstalk in phytonematodes for successful parasitism of the host tissue is yet underexplored. In view of this, we have used in planta effector screening approach to understand the possible interaction of pioneer genes (msp-18 and msp-20, putatively involved in late and early stage of M. incognita parasitism, respectively) with other unrelated effectors such as cell-wall modifying enzymes (CWMEs) in M. incognita. Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) strategy was used to generate the transgenic eggplants expressing msp-18 and msp-20, independently. Putative transformants were characterized via qRT-PCR and Southern hybridization assay. SiRNAs specific to msp-18 and msp-20 were also detected in the transformants via Northern hybridization assay. Transgenic expression of the RNAi constructs of msp-18 and msp-20 genes resulted in 43.64-69.68% and 41.74-67.30% reduction in M. incognita multiplication encompassing 6 and 10 events, respectively. Additionally, transcriptional oscillation of CWMEs documented in the penetrating and developing nematodes suggested the possible interaction among CWMEs and pioneer genes. The rapid assimilation of plant-derived carbon by invading nematodes was also demonstrated using 14C isotope probing approach. Our data suggests that HIGS of msp-18 and msp-20, improves nematode resistance in eggplant by affecting the steady-state transcription level of CWME genes in invading nematodes, and safeguard the plant against nematode invasion at very early stage because nematodes may become the recipient of bioactive RNA species during the process of penetration into the plant root.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tagginahalli N. Shivakumara
- Division of Nematology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi, India
| | - Sonam Chaudhary
- Division of Nematology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi, India
| | - Divya Kamaraju
- Division of Nematology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi, India
| | - Tushar K. Dutta
- Division of Nematology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi, India
| | - Pradeep K. Papolu
- Division of Nematology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi, India
| | - Prakash Banakar
- Division of Nematology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi, India
| | - Rohini Sreevathsa
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research – National Research Centre on Plant BiotechnologyNew Delhi, India
| | - Bhupinder Singh
- Nuclear Research Laboratory, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi, India
| | - K. M. Manjaiah
- Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi, India
| | - Uma Rao
- Division of Nematology, Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi, India
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Gillet FX, Bournaud C, Antonino de Souza Júnior JD, Grossi-de-Sa MF. Plant-parasitic nematodes: towards understanding molecular players in stress responses. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2017; 119:775-789. [PMID: 28087659 PMCID: PMC5378187 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcw260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plant-parasitic nematode interactions occur within a vast molecular plant immunity network. Following initial contact with the host plant roots, plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) activate basal immune responses. Defence priming involves the release in the apoplast of toxic molecules derived from reactive species or secondary metabolism. In turn, PPNs must overcome the poisonous and stressful environment at the plant-nematode interface. The ability of PPNs to escape this first line of plant immunity is crucial and will determine its virulence. SCOPE Nematodes trigger crucial regulatory cytoprotective mechanisms, including antioxidant and detoxification pathways. Knowledge of the upstream regulatory components that contribute to both of these pathways in PPNs remains elusive. In this review, we discuss how PPNs probably orchestrate cytoprotection to resist plant immune responses, postulating that it may be derived from ancient molecular mechanisms. The review focuses on two transcription factors, DAF-16 and SKN-1 , which are conserved in the animal kingdom and are central regulators of cell homeostasis and immune function. Both regulate the unfolding protein response and the antioxidant and detoxification pathways. DAF-16 and SKN-1 target a broad spectrum of Caenorhabditis elegans genes coding for numerous protein families present in the secretome of PPNs. Moreover, some regulatory elements of DAF-16 and SKN-1 from C. elegans have already been identified as important genes for PPN infection. CONCLUSION DAF-16 and SKN-1 genes may play a pivotal role in PPNs during parasitism. In the context of their hub status and mode of regulation, we suggest alternative strategies for control of PPNs through RNAi approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- François-Xavier Gillet
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB Final Av. W/5 Norte, CEP 70·770-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Caroline Bournaud
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB Final Av. W/5 Norte, CEP 70·770-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB Final Av. W/5 Norte, CEP 70·770-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Catholic University of Brasilia, Brasília-DF, Brazil
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Tian B, Li J, Oakley TR, Todd TC, Trick HN. Host-Derived Artificial MicroRNA as an Alternative Method to Improve Soybean Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode. Genes (Basel) 2016; 7:E122. [PMID: 27941644 PMCID: PMC5192498 DOI: 10.3390/genes7120122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is one of the most important pests limiting soybean production worldwide. Novel approaches to managing this pest have focused on gene silencing of target nematode sequences using RNA interference (RNAi). With the discovery of endogenous microRNAs as a mode of gene regulation in plants, artificial microRNA (amiRNA) methods have become an alternative method for gene silencing, with the advantage that they can lead to more specific silencing of target genes than traditional RNAi vectors. To explore the application of amiRNAs for improving soybean resistance to SCN, three nematode genes (designated as J15, J20, and J23) were targeted using amiRNA vectors. The transgenic soybean hairy roots, transformed independently with these three amiRNA vectors, showed significant reductions in SCN population densities in bioassays. Expression of the targeted genes within SCN eggs were downregulated in populations feeding on transgenic hairy roots. Our results provide evidence that host-derived amiRNA methods have great potential to improve soybean resistance to SCN. This approach should also limit undesirable phenotypes associated with off-target effects, which is an important consideration for commercialization of transgenic crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Tian
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
| | - Jiarui Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
- Bayer CropScience, 3500 Paramount Pkwy, Morrisville, NC 27560, USA.
| | - Thomas R Oakley
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
| | - Timothy C Todd
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
| | - Harold N Trick
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
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Raza A, Malik HJ, Shafiq M, Amin I, Scheffler JA, Scheffler BE, Mansoor S. RNA Interference based Approach to Down Regulate Osmoregulators of Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci): Potential Technology for the Control of Whitefly. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153883. [PMID: 27105353 PMCID: PMC4841547 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade RNA interference (RNAi) technology has emerged as a successful tool not only for functional genomics, but in planta expression of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that could offer great potential for insect pest management. The diet of insects feeding exclusively on phloem sieves contains water and sugars as main components, and the uptake of the liquid food greatly depends on the osmotic pressure within the insect body. Based on this physiological mechanism, transgenic plants of Nicotiana tabacum were generated expressing double stranded RNA (dsRNA) against both aquaporin (AQP) and a sucrase gene, alpha glucosidase (AGLU). These two genes are involved in osmotic pressure maintenance particularly in sap sucking insects, and the aim was to disrupt osmoregulation within the insect ultimately leading to mortality. Real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to assess the suppression of gene expression in Bemisia tabaci (B. tabaci) and mortality was recorded during transgenic tobacco feeding bioassays. Feeding of insects on plants expressing dsRNA significantly reduced the transcript level of the target genes in B. tabaci after six days of feeding and more than 70% mortality was observed in B. tabaci fed on transgenic plants compared to the control plants. Our data shows that down-regulation of genes related to osmoregulation may find practical applications for the control of this important pest in cotton and other crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Raza
- Molecular Virology and Gene Silencing Laboratory, Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, PO Box # 577, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Hassan Jamil Malik
- Molecular Virology and Gene Silencing Laboratory, Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, PO Box # 577, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shafiq
- Molecular Virology and Gene Silencing Laboratory, Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, PO Box # 577, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Imran Amin
- Molecular Virology and Gene Silencing Laboratory, Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, PO Box # 577, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Jodi A. Scheffler
- USDA-ARS, Crop Genetics Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Rd, Stoneville, Mississippi, 38776, United States of America
| | - Brian E. Scheffler
- USDA-ARS, Genomics and Bioinformatics Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Rd, Stoneville, Mississippi, 38776, United States of America
| | - Shahid Mansoor
- Molecular Virology and Gene Silencing Laboratory, Agricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, PO Box # 577, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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Vieira P, Eves-van den Akker S, Verma R, Wantoch S, Eisenback JD, Kamo K. The Pratylenchus penetrans Transcriptome as a Source for the Development of Alternative Control Strategies: Mining for Putative Genes Involved in Parasitism and Evaluation of in planta RNAi. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144674. [PMID: 26658731 PMCID: PMC4684371 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans is considered one of the most economically important species within the genus. Host range studies have shown that nearly 400 plant species can be parasitized by this species. To obtain insight into the transcriptome of this migratory plant-parasitic nematode, we used Illumina mRNA sequencing analysis of a mixed population, as well as nematode reads detected in infected soybean roots 3 and 7 days after nematode infection. Over 140 million paired end reads were obtained for this species, and de novo assembly resulted in a total of 23,715 transcripts. Homology searches showed significant hit matches to 58% of the total number of transcripts using different protein and EST databases. In general, the transcriptome of P. penetrans follows common features reported for other root lesion nematode species. We also explored the efficacy of RNAi, delivered from the host, as a strategy to control P. penetrans, by targeted knock-down of selected nematode genes. Different comparisons were performed to identify putative nematode genes with a role in parasitism, resulting in the identification of transcripts with similarities to other nematode parasitism genes. Focusing on the predicted nematode secreted proteins found in this transcriptome, we observed specific members to be up-regulated at the early time points of infection. In the present study, we observed an enrichment of predicted secreted proteins along the early time points of parasitism by this species, with a significant number being pioneer candidate genes. A representative set of genes examined using RT-PCR confirms their expression during the host infection. The expression patterns of the different candidate genes raise the possibility that they might be involved in critical steps of P. penetrans parasitism. This analysis sheds light on the transcriptional changes that accompany plant infection by P. penetrans, and will aid in identifying potential gene targets for selection and use to design effective control strategies against root lesion nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Vieira
- Dept. of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, United States of America
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, U.S. National Arboretum, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, 20705–2350, United States of America
| | | | - Ruchi Verma
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, U.S. National Arboretum, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, 20705–2350, United States of America
| | - Sarah Wantoch
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, U.S. National Arboretum, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, 20705–2350, United States of America
| | - Jonathan D. Eisenback
- Dept. of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, United States of America
| | - Kathryn Kamo
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, U.S. National Arboretum, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, 20705–2350, United States of America
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Courtot E, Charvet CL, Beech RN, Harmache A, Wolstenholme AJ, Holden-Dye L, O’Connor V, Peineau N, Woods DJ, Neveu C. Functional Characterization of a Novel Class of Morantel-Sensitive Acetylcholine Receptors in Nematodes. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005267. [PMID: 26625142 PMCID: PMC4666645 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine receptors are pentameric ligand-gated channels involved in excitatory neuro-transmission in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In nematodes, they represent major targets for cholinergic agonist or antagonist anthelmintic drugs. Despite the large diversity of acetylcholine-receptor subunit genes present in nematodes, only a few receptor subtypes have been characterized so far. Interestingly, parasitic nematodes affecting human or animal health possess two closely related members of this gene family, acr-26 and acr-27 that are essentially absent in free-living or plant parasitic species. Using the pathogenic parasitic nematode of ruminants, Haemonchus contortus, as a model, we found that Hco-ACR-26 and Hco-ACR-27 are co-expressed in body muscle cells. We demonstrated that co-expression of Hco-ACR-26 and Hco-ACR-27 in Xenopus laevis oocytes led to the functional expression of an acetylcholine-receptor highly sensitive to the anthelmintics morantel and pyrantel. Importantly we also reported that ACR-26 and ACR-27, from the distantly related parasitic nematode of horses, Parascaris equorum, also formed a functional acetylcholine-receptor highly sensitive to these two drugs. In Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living model nematode, we demonstrated that heterologous expression of the H. contortus and P. equorum receptors drastically increased its sensitivity to morantel and pyrantel, mirroring the pharmacological properties observed in Xenopus oocytes. Our results are the first to describe significant molecular determinants of a novel class of nematode body wall muscle AChR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Courtot
- INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, France
- Université de François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Tours, France
| | - Claude L. Charvet
- INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, France
- Université de François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Tours, France
| | - Robin N. Beech
- INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, France
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Sainte Anne de Bellevue, Québec, Canada
| | - Abdallah Harmache
- INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, France
- Université de François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Tours, France
| | - Adrian J. Wolstenholme
- Department of Infectious Disease and Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Disease, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Lindy Holden-Dye
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent O’Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolas Peineau
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, Département de physiologie animale, Tours, France
| | - Debra J. Woods
- Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Zoetis LLC, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Cedric Neveu
- INRA, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, France
- Université de François Rabelais de Tours, UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Tours, France
- * E-mail:
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Fan W, Wei Z, Zhang M, Ma P, Liu G, Zheng J, Guo X, Zhang P. Resistance to Ditylenchus destructor Infection in Sweet Potato by the Expression of Small Interfering RNAs Targeting unc-15, a Movement-Related Gene. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2015; 105:1458-65. [PMID: 26034810 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-04-15-0087-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Stem nematode (Ditylenchus destructor) is one of most serious diseases that limit the productivity and quality of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), a root crop with worldwide importance for food security and nutrition improvement. Hence, there is a global demand for developing sweet potato varieties that are resistant to the disease. In this study, we have investigated the interference of stem nematode infectivity by the expression of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in transgenic sweet potato that are homologous to the unc-15 gene, which affects the muscle protein paramyosin of the pathogen. The production of double-stranded RNAs and siRNAs in transgenic lines with a single transgene integration event was verified by Northern blot analysis. The expression of unc-15 was reduced dramatically in stem nematodes collected from the inoculated storage roots of transgenic plants, and the infection areas of their storage roots were dramatically smaller than that of wild-type (WT). Compared with the WT, the transgenic plants showed increased yield in the stem nematode-infested field. Our results demonstrate that the expression of siRNAs targeting the unc-15 gene of D. destructor is an effective approach in improving stem nematode resistance in sweet potato, in adjunct with the global integrated pest management programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijuan Fan
- First, second, third, and eighth authors: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; fourth and seventh authors: Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing 210014, China; fifth and sixth authors: Tai'an Academy of Agricultural Science, 16 Tailai Road, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China; and eighth author: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, 3888 Chenhua Road, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Zhaorong Wei
- First, second, third, and eighth authors: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; fourth and seventh authors: Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing 210014, China; fifth and sixth authors: Tai'an Academy of Agricultural Science, 16 Tailai Road, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China; and eighth author: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, 3888 Chenhua Road, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Min Zhang
- First, second, third, and eighth authors: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; fourth and seventh authors: Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing 210014, China; fifth and sixth authors: Tai'an Academy of Agricultural Science, 16 Tailai Road, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China; and eighth author: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, 3888 Chenhua Road, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Peiyong Ma
- First, second, third, and eighth authors: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; fourth and seventh authors: Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing 210014, China; fifth and sixth authors: Tai'an Academy of Agricultural Science, 16 Tailai Road, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China; and eighth author: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, 3888 Chenhua Road, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Guiling Liu
- First, second, third, and eighth authors: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; fourth and seventh authors: Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing 210014, China; fifth and sixth authors: Tai'an Academy of Agricultural Science, 16 Tailai Road, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China; and eighth author: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, 3888 Chenhua Road, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Jianli Zheng
- First, second, third, and eighth authors: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; fourth and seventh authors: Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing 210014, China; fifth and sixth authors: Tai'an Academy of Agricultural Science, 16 Tailai Road, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China; and eighth author: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, 3888 Chenhua Road, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Xiaoding Guo
- First, second, third, and eighth authors: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; fourth and seventh authors: Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing 210014, China; fifth and sixth authors: Tai'an Academy of Agricultural Science, 16 Tailai Road, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China; and eighth author: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, 3888 Chenhua Road, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- First, second, third, and eighth authors: National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai 200032, China; fourth and seventh authors: Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing 210014, China; fifth and sixth authors: Tai'an Academy of Agricultural Science, 16 Tailai Road, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China; and eighth author: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, 3888 Chenhua Road, Shanghai 201602, China
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Dutta TK, Papolu PK, Banakar P, Choudhary D, Sirohi A, Rao U. Tomato transgenic plants expressing hairpin construct of a nematode protease gene conferred enhanced resistance to root-knot nematodes. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:260. [PMID: 25883594 PMCID: PMC4381642 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) cause substantial yield losses in vegetables worldwide, and are difficult to manage. Continuous withdrawal of environmentally-harmful nematicides from the global market warrants the need for novel nematode management strategies. Utility of host-delivered RNAi has been demonstrated in several plants (Arabidopsis, tobacco, and soybean) that exhibited resistance against root-knot and cyst nematodes. Herein, a M. incognita-specific protease gene, cathepsin L cysteine proteinase (Mi-cpl-1), was targeted to generate tomato transgenic lines to evaluate the genetically modified nematode resistance. In vitro knockdown of Mi-cpl-1 gene led to the reduced attraction and penetration of M. incognita in tomato, suggesting the involvement of Mi-cpl-1 in nematode parasitism. Transgenic expression of the RNAi construct of Mi-cpl-1 gene resulted in 60-80% reduction in infection and multiplication of M. incognita in tomato. Evidence for in vitro and in vivo silencing of Mi-cpl-1 was confirmed by expression analysis using quantitative PCR. Our study demonstrates that Mi-cpl-1 plays crucial role during plant-nematode interaction and plant-mediated downregulation of this gene elicits detrimental effect on M. incognita development, reinforcing the potential of RNAi technology for management of phytonematodes in crop plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar K. Dutta
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research InstituteNew Delhi, India
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