RNAi and Functional Genomics in Plant Parasitic Nematodes

• Published in: Annual review of phytopathology Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 207 - 232
• Main Authors: Rosso, M.N, Jones, J.T, Abad, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto, CA Annual Reviews 01-01-2009
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; expressed sequence tags; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gene silencing; genes; Genes, Helminth; genetic markers; genome; genomics; Genomics - methods; Genomics - trends; host plants; Host-Parasite Interactions - genetics; host-parasite relationships; Life Sciences; literature reviews; mortality; Nematoda; Nematoda - genetics; nematode biology; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plant Diseases - genetics; plant parasitic nematodes; RNA interference; RNA, Small Interfering; transcriptome; transcriptomics; Host parasite relation; Plant pathology; Heteroderidae; RNA interference; Interaction; Meloidogyne; cyst nematode; Review; Lethal character; Gene silencing; Phenotype; Pest; lethal phenotype; root-knot nematode; Helmintha; Development; host-parasite interactions; Nemathelminthia; Invertebrata; Nematoda; Functional genomics; RELATION HOTE-PARASITE; GENOMIQUE
• ISSN: 0066-4286; 1545-2107
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev.phyto.112408.132605

Plant nematology is currently undergoing a revolution with the availability of the first genome sequences as well as comprehensive expressed sequence tag (EST) libraries from a range of nematode species. Several strategies are being used to exploit this wealth of information. Comparative genomics is being used to explore the acquisition of novel genes associated with parasitic lifestyles. Functional analyses of nematode genes are moving toward larger scale studies including global transcriptome profiling. RNA interference (RNAi) has been shown to reduce expression of a range of plant parasitic nematode genes and is a powerful tool for functional analysis of nematode genes. RNAi-mediated suppression of genes essential for nematode development, survival, or parasitism is revealing new targets for nematode control. Plant nematology in the genomics era is now facing the challenge to develop RNAi screens adequate for high-throughput functional analyses.