Open AccessDevelopment of nematode resistance in Arabidopsis by HD-RNAi-mediated silencing of the effector gene Mi-msp2
Author(s) -
Ila Joshi,
Anil Kumar,
Ashish Kumar Singh,
D. Kohli,
K. Venkat Raman,
Anil Sirohi,
Ashok Chaudhury,
Pradeep Jain
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/s41598-019-53485-8
Subject(s) - biology , effector , rna interference , arabidopsis , gene silencing , transgene , gene , rna silencing , genetically modified crops , nematode , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , rna , ecology , mutant
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are devastating parasites that infect thousands of plants. As RKN infection is facilitated by oesophageal gland effector genes, one such effector gene, Mi-msp2 , was selected for a detailed characterization. Based on domain analysis, the Mi-MSP2 protein contains an ShKT domain, which is likely involved in blocking K + channels and may help in evading the plant defence response. Expression of the Mi- msp2 gene was higher in juveniles (parasitic stage of RKNs) than in eggs and adults. Stable homozygous transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing Mi-msp2 dsRNA were generated, and the numbers of galls, females and egg masses were reduced by 52–54%, 60–66% and 84–95%, respectively, in two independent RNAi lines compared with control plants. Furthermore, expression analysis revealed a significant reduction in Mi-msp2 mRNA abundance (up to 88%) in female nematodes feeding on transgenic plants expressing dsRNA, and northern blot analysis confirmed expression of the Mi-msp2 siRNA in the transgenic plants. Interestingly, a significant reduction in the reproduction factor was observed (nearly 40-fold). These data suggest that the Mi-msp2 gene can be used as a potential target for RKN management in crops of economic importance.