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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #112824
Title: EFFECTS OF ROOT-KNOT NEMATODES ON DISTRIBUTION OF AMINO ACIDS

Author
item Hedin, Paul
item CREECH, ROY - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Technical Bulletin
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/9/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The root-knot nematode (RKN) is a sedentry endoparasite that retards the growth, development, and yield of cotton by attacking the root system, causing galling and stunting. Although present commercial cultivars are generally susceptible to the RKN, research has led to the development of resistant germplasm. In this present study, it was found that the protein content of susceptible infected roots increased more than did that of resistant, infected roots. The mole ratios of the individual protein amino acids were significantly changed in susceptible infected roots.

Technical Abstract: The root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood, is a sedentary endoparasite that retards growth and development of cotton, Gossypium spp. L, by attacking the root system, causing galling, stunting and other adverse effects. All commercial cultivars are susceptible to RKN, although they vary in degree of susceptibility. Plant research has led to the development of resistant germplasm. Subsequent work has indicated that the mechanism of resistance may involve two major genes and that resistant lines may produce a unique 14 kDa protein. In the present study, the protein content of roots increased more in a susceptible line than in a resistant line after inoculation with RKN. The mole ratios of individual amino acids in RKN infected roots also were different from that of uninfected roots, and changes due to infection were greater in a susceptible line than in a resistant line. The contents of amino acids in RKN eggs and their mole ratios were also determined. They were similar, but not identical to the mole ratios of the total amino acids of susceptible inoculated roots.