Open AccessDelivery of macromolecules to plant parasitic nematodes using a tobacco rattle virus vector
Author(s) -
Valentine Tracy A.,
Randall Eva,
Wypijewski Krzysztof,
Chapman Sean,
Jones John,
Oparka Karl J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2007.00289.x
Subject(s) - tobacco rattle virus , biology , nematode , heterodera schachtii , plant virus , tobacco mosaic virus , vector (molecular biology) , syncytium , virus , virology , gene , ecology , genetics , recombinant dna
Summary Plant parasitic nematodes cause significant damage to crops on a worldwide scale. These nematodes are often soil dwelling but rely on plants for food and to sustain them during reproduction. Complex interactions occur between plants and nematodes during the nematode life cycle with plant roots developing specialized feeding structures through which nematodes withdraw nutrients. Here we describe a novel method for delivering macromolecules to feeding nematodes using a virus‐based vector [tobacco rattle virus (TRV)]. We show that the parasitic nematode Heterodera schachtii will ingest fluorescent proteins transiently expressed in plant roots infected with a TRV construct carrying the appropriate protein sequence. A prerequisite for this delivery is the presence of replicating virus in root tips prior to the formation of nematode‐induced syncytia. We show also that TRV vectors expressing nematode gene sequences can be used to induce RNAi in the feeding nematodes.