MiDaf16-like and MiSkn1-like gene families are reliable targets to develop biotechnological tools for the control and management of Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

Meloidogyne incognita is a plant-parasitic root-knot nematode (RKn, ppn) responsible for causing damage to several crops worldwide. in Caenorhabditis elegans, the DAF-16 and SKN-1 transcription factors (tfs) orchestrate aging, longevity, and defense responses to several stresses. Here, we report that MiDaf16-like1 and MiSkn1-like1, which are orthologous to DAF-16 and SKN-1 in C. elegans, and some of their targets, are modulated in M. incognita J2 during oxidative stress or plant parasitism. We used RnAi technology for the stable production of siRnAs in planta to downregulate the MiDaf16-like1 and MiSkn1-like1 genes of M. incognita during host plant parasitism. Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum overexpressing a hairpin-derived dsRNA targeting these genes individually (single-gene silencing) or simultaneously (double-gene silencing) were generated. t 2 plants were challenged with M. incognita and the number of eggs, galls, and J2, and the nematode reproduction factor (NRF) were evaluated. our data indicate that MiDaf16-like1, MiSkn1-like1 and some genes from their networks are modulated in M. incognita J2 during oxidative stress or plant parasitism. Transgenic A. thaliana and N. tabacum plants with single-or double-gene silencing showed significant reductions in the numbers of eggs, J2, and galls, and in NRF. Additionally, the double-gene silencing plants had the highest resistance level. Gene expression assays confirmed the downregulation of the MiDaf16-like1 and MiSkn1-like1 tfs and defense genes in their networks during nematode parasitism in the transgenic plants. All these findings demonstrate that these two TFs are potential targets for the development of biotechnological tools for nematode control and management in economically important crops. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are one of the major agricultural pathogens worldwide 1. PPNs disturb plant roots by altering the cell cycle, increasing the size of parasitized cells, and causing cell hyperproliferation. This process results in the compatible interaction and development of nematode feeding sites (galls) 2-6 , which disrupt the uptake of water and nutrients and reduce plant growth and yield 7-9. Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are obligate sedentary endoparasites from the genus Meloidogyne spp. 10. Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most commonly reported species, causing damage in several crops of economic importance worldwide 11. Its life cycle comprises of six stages, namely, egg, J1 (first-stage juvenile), J2 (second-stage juvenile), J3 (third-stage juvenile), J4 (fourth-stage juvenile), and adults (female and male). The J3, J4, and females are typically sedentary endophytes, while the eggs and J2 are exophytes 11. The limited range of available control agents or resistant cultivars

Transcriptional response of Meloidogyne incognita to non-fumigant nematicides

“…Two known transcription factor families that play a role in regulating stress responses, including xenobiotic detoxification in M. incognita , are Miskn1-like and Midaf16-like, which control the expression of between 500 to 846 genes 16 , 17 . Miskn1-like and Midaf16-like are orthologous to the C. elegans genes skn-1 and daf-16 and were up-regulated when M. incognita was exposed to hydrogen peroxide, an oxidative stressor 16 . There are four Miskn1-like genes in M. incognita .…”

Composted Municipal Green Waste Infused with Biocontrol Agents to Control Plant Parasitic Nematodes—A Review

“…RNAi technology was used for the stable production of siRNAs in plants to downregulate the MiDaf16-like1 and MiSkn1-like1 genes of M. incognita, which are orthologous to DAF-16 and SKN-1 transcription factors (TFs) in Caenorhabditis elegans during host plant parasitism. For the development of the biotechnological nematode control of M. incognita by the means of the number of eggs, galls, J2 and the reproduction factor (NRF), two TFs were proven to be potential targets [243].…”

Methylglyoxal Has Different Impacts on the Fungistatic Roles of Ammonia and Benzaldehyde, and Lactoylglutathione Lyase Is Necessary for the Resistance of Arthrobotrys oligospora to Soil Fungistasis

“…The rootknot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne spp., accounts for about 50% of the losses caused by all plantparasitic nematodes (Abad et al, 2008;Singh et al, 2015). The RKN also causes plant wounds, through which microbial pathogens infect the plant, and this frequently leads to the underestimation of the damage caused by nematodes (Basso et al, 2020). In the past decades, the main control method against Meloidogyne spp.…”