Below-Ground Attack by the Root Knot Nematode Meloidogyne graminicola Predisposes Rice to Blast Disease.
Magnaporthe oryzae (rice blast) and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola are causing two of the most important pathogenic diseases jeopardizing rice production. Here, we show that root-knot nematode infestation on rice roots leads to important above-ground changes in plant immunity gene expression, which is correlated with significantly enhanced susceptibility to blast disease. A detailed metabolic analysis of oxidative stress responses and hormonal balances demonstrates that the above-ground tissues have a disturbed oxidative stress level, with accumulation of H2O2, as well as hormonal disturbances. Moreover, double infection experiments on an oxidative stress mutant and an auxin-deficient rice line indicate that the accumulation of auxin in the above-ground tissue is at least partly responsible for the blast-promoting effect of root-knot nematode infection.
1 Department Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Tina
T
Kyndt
1 Department Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.|4 Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University.
Henok Yimer
HY
Zemene
2 Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Research Group EnVOC, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Ashley
A
Haeck
1 Department Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Richard
R
Singh
4 Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University.
David
D
De Vleesschauwer
3 Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Ghent University; and.
Simon
S
Denil
3 Department of Mathematical Modelling, Statistics and Bioinformatics, Ghent University; and.
Tim
T
De Meyer
4 Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University.
Monica
M
Höfte
2 Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Research Group EnVOC, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Kristof
K
Demeestere
1 Department Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Godelieve
G
Gheysen
D000818:Animals; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D020082:Magnaporthe / Q000502:physiology; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000502:physiology; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics; D014431:Tylenchoidea / Q000502:physiology*
D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators