Abstract
Heterodera avenae, as an obligate endoparasite, causes severe yield loss in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Investigation on the mechanisms how H. avenae perceives wheat roots is limited. Here, the attractiveness of root exudates from eight plant genotypes to H. avenae were evaluated on agar plates. Results showed that the attraction of H. avenae to the root exudates from the non-host Brachypodium distachyon variety Bd21-3 was the highest, approximately 50 infective second-stage juveniles (J2s) per plate, followed by that from three H. avenae-susceptible wheat varieties, Zhengmai9023, Yanmai84 and Xiangmai25, as well as the resistant one of Xinyuan958, whereas the lowest attractive activity was observed in the two H. avenae-resistant wheat varieties, Xianmai20 (approximately 12 J2s/plate) and Liangxing66 (approximately 11 J2s/plate). Then Bd21-3, Zhengmai9023 and Heng4399 were selected for further assays as their different attractiveness and resistance to H. avenae, and attractants for H. avenae in their root exudates were characterized to be heat-labile and low-molecular compounds (LM) by behavioral bioassay. Based on these properties of the attractants, a principle of identifying attractants for H. avenae was set up. Then LM of six root exudates from the three plants with and without heating were separated and analyzed by HPLC-MS. Finally, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), methylprednisolone succinate, embelin and diethylpropionin in the root exudates were identified to be putative attractants for H. avenae according to the principle, and the attraction of DHA to H. avenae was validated by behavioral bioassay on agar. Our study enhances the recognition to the orientation mechanism of H. avenae towards wheat roots.
Highlights
IntroductionHeterodera avenae is one of the most important nematode pests that limits production of small grain cereals
Cereal cyst nematode, Heterodera avenae is one of the most important nematode pests that limits production of small grain cereals
Out of all the eight root exudates from different plants, that from B. distachyon variety Bd21-3 showed the highest attractive activity to H. avenae, which followed by the three susceptible wheat varieties Zhengmai9023, Yanmai84 and Xiangmai25 and a resistant wheat variety Xinyuan958 (P < 0.01; Fig 2)
Summary
Heterodera avenae is one of the most important nematode pests that limits production of small grain cereals. Invaded young plants are stunted and leaves are often chlorotic, forming pale green patches in the field [1]. It is believed that attractive cues of plant root exudates for nematodes mediate the recognition between plants and nematodes, and the nematode sense organs, amphids functioning as chemoreceptors are mainly. Dihydroxyacetone serves as an attractant for Heterodera avenae. The sponsors or funders play none roles in the study
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