Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are a major parasite of agricultural crops, causing galls or "knots" formation throughout the root system. Finding a novel biological system for controlling the infection process is important to develop new method for limiting the RKN damage worldwide. The motile J2 stage juveniles invade into the host plant root near the root cap, penetrate intercellulary to the area of cell elongation where they initiate permanent feeding sites by injecting stylets. The molecular mechanism underlying this infection process, particularly the host plant and RKN interaction is virtually unknown.
Tomato is a major host for the infection by RKNs. Recently a dwarf cultivar Micro-Tom is regarded as the model tomato and bio-resources such as mutant populations, a TILLING platform, full-length cDNA and genome sequences are developed mainly by the National BioResource Project. By accessing to these resources and information, we surveyed for host genes that potentially have a role in regulating the RKN infection process. We are assessing the genes' effect on the infection rate by RNAi or by utilizing the mutant. The current status of the study is presented.
