Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #219860

Title: Role of phytohormones ethylene and auxin in plant-nematode interactions: mini-review

Author
item GUTIERREZ, OSMAN - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item Wubben, Martin
item HOWARD, MELISSA - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item ROBERTS, BRITTANY - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item HANLON, EDWARD - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item WILKINSON, J - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Russian Journal of Plant Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/23/2008
Publication Date: 1/1/2009
Citation: Gutierrez, O.A., Wubben, M., Howard, M., Roberts, B., Hanlon, E., Wilkinson, J.R. 2009. Role of phytohormones ethylene and auxin in plant-nematode interactions: mini-review. Russian Journal of Plant Physiology. 56:1-5.

Interpretive Summary: The plant hormones ethylene and auxin mediate many important processes in plants including cell differentiation, cell expansion, and responses to abiotic stresses. These hormones are also involved in many plant-pathogen interactions including the regulation of plant defense mechanisms and symptom development. Sedentary plant-parasitic nematodes require the formation of a complex feeding site within the host root and are among the world’s most destructive plant pathogens. Nematode-induced feeding sites show dramatic changes in host cell morphology and gene expression. Host ethylene and auxin signaling play major roles in mediating these changes. In the present mini-review, current knowledge of the roles of ethylene and auxin in plant-nematode interactions will be explored in two main areas: the specific role of phytohormones in mediating feeding site development by plant-parasitic nematodes and the general role of phytohormones in affecting the ability of parasitic nematodes to cause disease.

Technical Abstract: The phytohormones ethylene and auxin regulate many important processes in plants, including cell differentiation, cell expansion, and responses to abiotic stresses. These hormones also play important roles in many plant-pathogen interactions, including regulation of plant defense responses and symptom development. Sedentary plant-parasitic nematodes, which require the formation of a complex feeding site within the host root, are among the world’s most destructive plant pathogens. Nematode-induced feeding sites show dramatic changes in host cell morphology and gene expression. These changes are likely mediated, at least in part, by phytohormones. In the present review, current knowledge of the roles of ethylene and auxin will be explored in two main areas: the specific role of phytohormones in mediating feeding site development by plant-parasitic nematodes and the general role of phytohormones in affecting the ability of parasitic nematodes to cause disease.