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Interactions between Plants and Nematodes

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2025) | Viewed by 3487

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Interests: plants

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant nematodes are among the most economically devastating plant pathogens and cause huge annual yield losses globally. Nematodes establish parasitism by secreting a large number of effectors that help them invade roots, suppress plant defense and induce feeding sites. Research efforts have focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between nematodes and host plants. This Special Issue of IJMS welcomes manuscript submissions that address plant–nematode interactions, plant resistance genes against nematodes, as well as interaction or resistance mechanisms.

Dr. Qian Liu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • plant nematodes
  • hosts
  • interaction
  • effectors
  • giant cells
  • syncytia

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2723 KB  
Article
miRNA-Mediated Regulation of Meloidogyne arenaria Responses in Wild Arachis
by Patricia Messenberg Guimaraes, Andressa da Cunha Quintana Martins, Roberto Coiti Togawa, Mario Alfredo de Passos Saraiva, Ana Luiza Machado Lacerda, Ana Cristina Miranda Brasileiro and Priscila Grynberg
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(22), 10824; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262210824 - 7 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 715
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key post-transcriptional regulators of plant development and stress responses, with many being conserved across diverse plant lineages. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of miRNAs and their corresponding target genes in Arachis stenosperma, a wild peanut relative [...] Read more.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key post-transcriptional regulators of plant development and stress responses, with many being conserved across diverse plant lineages. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of miRNAs and their corresponding target genes in Arachis stenosperma, a wild peanut relative that exhibits robust resistance to root-knot nematodes (RKN). Small RNA sequencing of nematode-infected roots identified 107 miRNA loci, of which 93 corresponded to conserved miRNA families and 14 represented novel candidates, designated as miRNOVO. Among these, 18 miRNAs belonging to 11 conserved families were identified as differentially expressed (DEMs). Notably, miR399 and miR319 showed the highest upregulation (logFC = 4.25 and 4.20), while miR393 and miR477 were the most downregulated (logFC = −0.83 and −0.79). Integrated analysis of miRNA and transcriptome data revealed several regulatory interactions involving key defense-related genes. These included NLR genes targeted by miR393 and miR477, hormone signaling components such as the auxin response factor ARF8 targeted by miR167, and the growth regulator GRF2 targeted by miR396. Additionally, miR408 was predicted to target laccase3, a gene involved in the oxidation of phenolic compounds, lignin biosynthesis, copper homeostasis and defense responses. Remarkably, four immune receptor genes belonging to the nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NLR) family displayed inverse expression patterns relative to their regulatory miRNAs, suggesting miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional control during the early stages of nematode infection. These findings reveal both conserved and species-specific miRNA–mRNA modules associated with nematode resistance in A. stenosperma, highlighting promising targets for developing RKN-tolerant peanut cultivars through miRNA-based strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions between Plants and Nematodes)
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13 pages, 2125 KB  
Article
Effects of Cover Crops on Nematode Communities in Spinach Production
by Elyse Aubry, Jerry Akanwari, Ping Liang, Walid Ellouze, Jonathan Gaiero and Tahera Sultana
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13366; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413366 - 13 Dec 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1717
Abstract
Agricultural soil environments contain different types of nematodes in all trophic levels that aid in balancing the soil food web. Beneficial free-living nematodes (FLNs) consist of bacterivores, fungivores, predators, and omnivores that help in the mineralization of the soil and the top-down control [...] Read more.
Agricultural soil environments contain different types of nematodes in all trophic levels that aid in balancing the soil food web. Beneficial free-living nematodes (FLNs) consist of bacterivores, fungivores, predators, and omnivores that help in the mineralization of the soil and the top-down control of harmful plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs). Annually, USD 125 billion in worldwide crop losses are caused by PPNs, making them a plant pathogen of great concern for growers. Farmers have started to implement the use of cover crops in agricultural systems for the protection and enrichment of soil but research on how different cover crops affect nematode populations is lacking and in demand. This study aims to determine the effects of legume and grass cover crops, Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum), as well as their mixture on the abundance and diversity of FLN and PPN populations. Soil samples were collected at the time of cover crop maturity and spinach harvest to analyze nematode communities using both morphological and DNA metabarcoding analysis. The results showed that the application of Cowpea and Pearl Millet as well as their mixture in a spinach agricultural system led to the control of PPNs and proliferation of FLN communities, with each cover crop treatment demonstrating different advantages for the various nematode feeding groups. Soil property analysis did not show a significant difference except for magnesium and total nitrogen levels, which were significantly correlated with nematode community composition. The overall findings of our study indicate that the choice of cover crop implementation by growers for spinach cultivation should be based on specific soil health conditions, which in turn promote soil fertility and a healthy nematode community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions between Plants and Nematodes)
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