Plant-parasitic nematodes respond to root exudate signals with host-specific gene expression patterns

Plant parasitic nematodes must be able to locate and feed from their host in order to survive. Here we show that Pratylenchus coffeae regulates the expression of selected cell-wall degrading enzyme genes relative to the abundance of substrate in root exudates, thereby tailoring gene expression for root entry of the immediate host. The concentration of cellulose or xylan within the exudate determined the level of -1,4-endoglucanase (Pc-eng-1) and -1,4-endoxylanase (Pc-xyl) upregulation respectively. Treatment of P. coffeae with cellulose or xylan or with root exudates deficient in cellulose or xylan conferred a specific gene expression response of Pc-eng-1 or Pc-xyl respectively with no effect on expression of another cell wall degrading enzyme gene, a pectate lyase (Pc-pel). RNA interference confirmed the importance of regulating these genes as lowered transcript levels reduced root penetration by the nematode. Gene expression in this plant parasitic nematode is therefore influenced, in a host-specific manner, by cell wall components that are either secreted by the plant or released by degradation of root tissue. Transcriptional plasticity may have evolved as an adaptation for host recognition and increased root invasion by this polyphagous species. Author summary Plant parasitic nematodes feed from plant roots to support their development. In order to enter and reproduce within the host the nematode must interact with the components exuded by the root. The components are known to vary between individual plant species thus presenting different challenges for the nematode. We observe upregulation of two cell wall degrading enzyme genes in Pratylenchus coffeae upon exposure to root exudates. The nematode genes are differentially expressed dependent upon the identity of the plant. The relative expression of each gene correlates with the abundance of the encoded enzyme substrate in the nematode environment, indicating that the nematode perceives these components and responds by tailoring gene expression for what is currently required for host-parasitism. This ability may explain the wide host range of this nematode species and may be shared by other parasites.