title: Systemic suppression of the shoot metabolism upon rice root nematode infection.
abstract: Hirschmanniella oryzae is the most common plant-parasitic nematode in flooded rice cultivation systems. These migratory animals penetrate the plant roots and feed on the root cells, creating large cavities, extensive root necrosis and rotting. The objective of this study was to investigate the systemic response of the rice plant upon root infection by this nematode. RNA sequencing was applied on the above-ground parts of the rice plants at 3 and 7 days post inoculation. The data revealed significant modifications in the primary metabolism of the plant shoot, with a general suppression of for instance chlorophyll biosynthesis, the brassinosteroid pathway, and amino acid production. In the secondary metabolism, we detected a repression of the isoprenoid and shikimate pathways. These molecular changes can have dramatic consequences for the growth and yield of the rice plants, and could potentially change their susceptibility to above-ground pathogens and pests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kyndt
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Denil
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lander
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bauters
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; NXTGNT, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Criekinge
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Meyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000469:parasitology*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics; D014431:Tylenchoidea / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002734:Chlorophyll; C037184:chlorophyll b; D000077194:Chlorophyll A