Proteomic Insights of Cowpea Response to Combined Biotic and Abiotic Stresses.

The co-occurrence of biotic and abiotic stresses in agricultural areas severely affects crop performance and productivity. Drought is one of the most adverse environmental stresses, and its association with root-knot nematodes further limits the development of several economically important crops, such as cowpea. Plant responses to combined stresses are complex and require novel adaptive mechanisms through the induction of specific biotic and abiotic signaling pathways.

Functional characterization of the pUceS8.3 promoter and its potential use for ectopic gene overexpression.

The pUceS8.3 is a constitutive gene promoter with potential for ectopic and strong genes overexpression or active biomolecules in plant tissues attacked by pests, including nematode-induced giant cells or galls. Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important agricultural commodities worldwide and a major protein and oil source.

In planta RNAi approach targeting three M. incognita effector genes disturbed the process of infection and reduced plant susceptibility.

Meloidogyne incognita is the most economically important species of the root-knot nematode complex causing damage to several crops worldwide. During parasitism in host plants, M. incognita secretes several effector proteins to suppress the plant immune system, manipulate the plant cell cycle, and promote parasitism.

NBS-LRR-WRKY genes and protease inhibitors (PIs) seem essential for cowpea resistance to root-knot nematode.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a legume of great economic importance, however it is highly affected by nematodes. The present work aimed to identify proteins and genes involved in nematode resistance by proteomic and transcriptomic analysis.

Minc03328 effector gene downregulation severely affects Meloidogyne incognita parasitism in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana.

Minc03328 effector gene downregulation triggered by in planta RNAi strategy strongly reduced plant susceptibility to Meloidogyne incognita and suggests that Minc03328 gene is a promising target for the development of genetically engineered crops to improve plant tolerance to M. incognita. Meloidogyne incognita is the most economically important species of root-knot nematodes (RKN) and causes severe damage to crops worldwide.

A Chemosensory GPCR as a Potential Target to Control the Root-Knot Nematode Parasitism in Plants.

Root-knot nematodes (RKN), from the genus, have a worldwide distribution and cause severe economic damage to many life-sustaining crops. Because of their lack of specificity and danger to the environment, most chemical nematicides have been banned from use. Thus, there is a great need for new and safe compounds to control RKN.

Transgenic cotton expressing Cry10Aa toxin confers high resistance to the cotton boll weevil.

Genetically modified (GM) cotton plants that effectively control cotton boll weevil (CBW), which is the most destructive cotton insect pest in South America, are reported here for the first time. This work presents the successful development of a new GM cotton with high resistance to CBW conferred by Cry10Aa toxin, a protein encoded by entomopathogenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene. The plant transformation vector harbouring cry10Aa gene driven by the cotton ubiquitination-related promoter uceA1.

Implications of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling in soybean drought stress tolerance.

Background: Ethylene is a phytohormone known for inducing a triple response in seedlings, leaf abscission and other responses to various stresses. Several studies in model plants have evaluated the importance of this hormone in crosstalk signaling with different metabolic pathways, in addition to responses to biotic stresses. However, the mechanism of action in plants of agricultural interest, such as soybean, and its participation in abiotic stresses remain unclear.

Expression of an osmotin-like protein from Solanum nigrum confers drought tolerance in transgenic soybean.

Background: Drought is by far the most important environmental factor contributing to yield losses in crops, including soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.].

Transcription profile of soybean-root-knot nematode interaction reveals a key role of phythormones in the resistance reaction.

Background: Root-knot nematodes (RKN- Meloidogyne genus) present extensive challenges to soybean crop. The soybean line (PI 595099) is known to be resistant against specific strains and races of nematode species, thus its differential gene expression analysis can lead to a comprehensive gene expression profiling in the incompatible soybean-RKN interaction. Even though many disease resistance genes have been studied, little has been reported about phytohormone crosstalk on modulation of ROS signaling during soybean-RKN interaction.

Transcriptome analysis of resistant soybean roots infected by Meloidogyne javanica.

Soybean is an important crop for Brazilian agribusiness. However, many factors can limit its production, especially root-knot nematode infection. Studies on the mechanisms employed by the resistant soybean genotypes to prevent infection by these nematodes are of great interest for breeders.