Editorial: Plant-parasitic nematode and plant interaction under abiotic and biotic stresses

Editorial on the Research Topic
Plant-parasitic nematode and plant interaction under abiotic and biotic stresses

This editorial summarizes the contributions to the Frontiers Research Topic “Plant-parasitic Nematode and Plant Interaction under Abiotic and Biotic Stresses”, published under the Plant Pathogen Interactions section of the journal Frontiers in Plant Science journal.

Editorial on the Research Topic

Not only do abiotic and biotic stressors affect plant development, growth, and productivity, but they also influence both the incidence and the severity of infection by plant pathogens. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) inflict significant biotic stress on numerous crops around the world, with over 4000 species threatening plant health and food security (Press and Phoenix, 2005) and resulting in an annual global loss of USD 173 billion (Elling, 2013). As a result, there is an increased focus on the influence of biotic and abiotic stressors on interactions between plants and nematodes, allowing the prediction of disease outbreaks, the breeding of better crop plants, and the design of effective means of control, especially in the context of climate change. Therefore, the aim of this Research Topic is to highlight recent research into the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on plant–nematode relationships.

Currently, PPNs in crops are best managed by the use of resistant cultivars. The breeding of such cultivars is dependent on an understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with PPN resistance in plants. One article by Jiang et al. describes a novel avenue for the investigation of resistance to the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines, SCN) in soybean plants. The study identifies 10 novel QTLs and one QEI associated with 101 genes linked to SCN resistance using 3VmrMLM. The authors demonstrate the presence of a haplotype in Glyma.03G005600 that contributes to multi-SCN-race resistance and is linked to SCN HG Type 0 and Type 1.2.3.5.7 resistance. Another article that makes a direct contribution to plant breeding practice has also been contributed by Jiang et al. The GmHg1 gene, encoding a serine/threonine protein kinase, was found to be associated with SCN resistance. According to the research, 11 genes co-expressed with GmHg1 may contribute to soybean resistance to SCN. These findings suggest a novel strategy for facilitating the breeding of SCN-resistant plants.

The study by You et al. demonstrates the induction of the CYP gene HgCYP33E1 by xenobiotics, such as pesticides, host plant metabolites, and biocontrol bacteria. The expression of HgCYP33E1 is found to be influenced by SCN sensitivity to abamectin, indicating the participation of HgCYP33E1 in xenobiotic biotransformation. Another article that makes a direct contribution to methylation-dependent modulation of the plant response to SCN infection is also included. Bennett et al. profile the activities of the promoters of 12 genes associated with DNA methylation and demethylation in Arabidopsis roots following infection by the beet cyst nematode (Herodera schachtii) and southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). They found that the promoter regions of several DNA demethylases show greater activity in galls compared with syncytia, especially during the initial stages of infection. Defective CG or CHH methylation was found to enhance plant susceptibility to both pathogens, while mutants with defective CHG methylation showed decreased susceptibility only to M. incognita.

Two other articles that make a direct contribution to biological control are included. Wang et al. investigated DEGs, DAMs, and lignin accumulation following infection by the root-knot nematode (RKN) in Pnotoginseng notoginseng plants of different ages using transcriptomics, metabolomics, and histochemistry. P. notoginseng was found to use a multipronged defensive approach to stop the growth and spread of RKN. This was accompanied by enhancement or inhibition of the flavonoid and phenylpropanoid pathways. In another article, Zhao et al. report that the highly virulent Trichoderma T1910 strain controls M. incognita infection in tomato, allowing further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of Trichoderma spp. on M. incognita.

The articles presented in this Research Topic are valuable for the management of PPNs. These results will help nematode researchers, geneticists, and breeders to improve their understanding of interactions between plants and parasitic nematodes under conditions of biotic and abiotic stress.

Author contributions

JC: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. XG: Writing – review & editing. GY: Writing – review & editing. YH: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. JC is supported by the Project of Wanzhou Science and Technology Bureau (WZSTC-20220123), Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (Grant No. KJQN 202101205).

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank everyone who submitted to this special issue, as well as the generous reviewers who helped to improve the submissions. We also want to thank the editorial board for their help.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

References

Elling, A. A. (2013). Major emerging problems with minor meloidogyne species. Phytopathology 103, 1092–1102. doi: 10.1094/PHYTO-01-13-0019-RVW

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Press, M., Phoenix, G. (2005). Impacts of parasitic plants on natural communities: Tansley review. New Phytol. 166, 737–751. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01358.x

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar