Nematode management through genome editing.

Abstract

Abstract Plant parasitic nematodes are among the most destructive plant pathogens, causing an estimated US$78 billion yield losses globally. Although approximately 3000 species of plant parasitic nematodes have been described, most of the damage is caused by a small group of root-infecting sedentary endoparasitic nematodes that include root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and cyst nematodes (Heterodera spp.). Given that previous literature amply reviews the breadth of biotechnological methods for the control of plant parasitic nematodes, this chapter will briefly touch on long-standing biotechnological methods but focus on recent progress in, and long-term promise of, the use of CRISPR technology for introducing targeted modifications into host genomes with the goal of enhancing resistance against plant parasitic nematodes. It is predicted that expanding reverse genetic approaches beyond RNA interference, using low-cost, technically simple and efficient transformation (transient or stable) will be the single most important advance in the field in some years.