title: Functional characterization of nematode effectors in plants.
abstract: Secreted effectors represent the molecular interface between the nematode and its host plant. Studies that aimed at deciphering molecular plant-nematode interactions are hampered by technical hurdles that prevent the generation of transgenic nematodes. However, RNA interference (RNAi) has proven to be a valuable tool to specifically knock-down nematode effector genes, both ex planta and in planta. Plant-mediated RNAi of nematode genes not only facilitates functional characterization of effectors but also lends itself to a novel control strategy against plant-parasitic nematodes. Here, we describe currently used methods to silence genes in plant-parasitic cyst and root-knot nematodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA, elling@wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Axel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Elling
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000469:parasitology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009348:Nematoda / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D034622:RNA Interference; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; D016372:RNA, Antisense