Cell wall biosynthesis in nematode-induced Syncytia
Abstract
After invading roots of host plants the cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii homes in on a defined set of procambial cells in the root vasculature and re-programs their developmental fate to form a syncytium that nurtures immobile juveniles into adulthood. Syncytium formation involves degradation of walls between adjacent pre-syncytial cells, thickening of syncytial outer walls and deposition of cell wall ingrowths at the interface between the syncytium and the host vasculature. Finally, internal turgor-pressure together with action of cell wall modifying factors triggers massive expansion of syncytium and leads to hypertrophy of the feeding site complex. In the present project we hypothesize that the wall thickening process and the formation of cell wall ingrowths in syncytia involves biosynthesis of new cell wall material. Further, we will test whether cell wall alteration might ultimately be important for feeding site formation and nematode development. This project comprises three main objectives. The first one is the in-depth analysis of the Affymetrix GeneChips made for several stages of syncytia induced by H. schachtii in roots of Arabidopsis focusing on genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis. These data together with expression (qRT-PCR) and localisation (in situ RT-PCR) studies will generate hypotheses on which cell wall components are made and allow us to select candidate genes. The second objective is to analyze the qualitative composition of the syncytial walls at the different developmental stages by use of cell wall carbohydrate specific immunoprobes. Finally, as a third objective a selected collection of A. thaliana cell wall defective mutants for interesting candidate genes will be tested based on expression analysis and immunocytochemistry. By testing our hypotheses we contribute to a further understanding of plant-nematode interactions and, if a deliberate modification of the cell wall biosynthetic machinery in crop species interferes with the nematode life cycle, new resistance breeding strategies can be developed.
keywords cell wall nematodes plant pathogens
Publikationen
Plant Cell Wall Signaling in the Interaction with Plant-Parasitic Nematodes
Autoren: Krzysztof Wieczorek & Georg J. Seifert Jahr: 2012
Chapter in collected volumes
Project staff
Krzysztof Wieczorek
Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Krzysztof Wieczorek
krzysztof.wieczorek@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-95306
Project Leader
01.01.2009 - 31.12.2011