Genetics of Plant-Nematode Interactions

The global distribution and wide range of hosts of plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) explain the high economic impact and the difficulties found in their management. It is essential to reduce the amount of damage they cause if productivity is to be sustainable. Their control is mainly achieved by nematicide application and cultural practices, such as crop rotation and the use of resistant cultivars. Although the use of chemical pesticides is an effective control strategy, strict European legislation (Directive 69/465/CEE; Directive 2009/128/EC) regarding the use of chemical products in conventional farming increased the need for alternative sustainable strategies for PPN management. Understanding the regulatory processes underlying plant-nematode parasitism could lead to the development of successful PPN management strategies based on the use of plant resistance.

Plant-parasitic nematodes interact with their hosts in ways ranging from ephemeral to the intimate and complex mechanisms of feeding site formation within the roots, and insights into the organismal, cellular and sub-cellular responses in both the host and the parasite is critical to the development of novel management tools. Understanding the molecular basis underlying plant interactions with PPN is of paramount importance and will undoubtedly contribute for the development of effective alternative management strategies against PPN. Some of the known molecular mechanisms of PPN infection during both susceptible interactions and plant defense and molecular resistance mechanisms have already been explored with promising results. Ideally, growers would turn to resistant cultivars and cultural practices to manage nematodes, but, for many commodities, these resources/approaches are generally unavailable or ineffective. The main objective will be to gather the most recent knowledge acquired on these subjects providing a comprehensive approach to the fundamental processes intrinsic to plant nematode interactions. This knowledge will be important to map the different pathways involved in the plant-nematode interaction and develop more successful control strategies.

This research topic accepts manuscripts that highlight the interactions and feedbacks between plant-nematode interactions and welcomes contributions focusing on the listed aspects:

- Genome/transcriptome of PPN.
- Molecular bases of the compatible plant-PPN interactions.
- Plant protection using host resistance mechanisms against PPN.
- Biotechnology approaches to plant-plant interactions related with PPN.
- Sub-cellular and cellular basis of plant-nematode interaction, including transcriptomics of host plants and nematodes during parasitism, manipulation of biochemical pathways, regulatory and developmental pathways, and sex determination.
- Mechanisms of genetic host resistance, including molecular and cellular responses by the resistant host, mechanisms of nematode defences against host resistance processes, and methods used by nematodes to evade triggering host defences.
- Biotechnology approaches to engineered host resistance, including transgenic approaches, RNAi, gene editing, and engineered symbionts.
- Deployment and sustainability of traditional and biotechnology-based nematode management methods using host resistance.