PLANT SCIENCE Nematodes hijack root development
MRS
Cyst nematode parasites cause substantial damage to crop plants. These parasites invade plant roots, destroying internal root tissue structure and inducing root branching to provide additional feeding sites. Guarneri et al. found that cyst nematode infection triggers the accumulation of the plant hormone jasmonic acid and up-regulates a key transcription factor for root induction. These events lead to increased local biosynthesis of auxin that initiates de novo root formation in a similar manner to wound-associated root induction. Although infected plants maintained their overall root system size, increased secondary root growth was balanced by reduced primary root lengths. Therefore, pathogens can manipulate the dynamic responses of root systems for their own benefit.
New Phytol. 237, 807 (2023).
Global Plant Protection News 
Leave a Reply