A Review on Plant-parasitic Nematode Mimics Acting as a Smart Tool for Establishing Parasitism in Host

Abstract

Molecular mimics are an excellent example of nature’s survival tool adopted by different pathogens. Plant-parasitic nematodes especially the sedentary endoparasites like Cyst nematodes and Root-knot nematodes are one such dangerous pathogens which were mastered in mimicking their host proteins crucial for cell growth and development. At the time of infection, a nematode fight against the host immune response with simultaneously establishing its feeding site. Thus, this parallel reprograming of plants cell growth and development at the feeding site is what make these pathogens the most dangerous and at the same time intrigued pathogen to study. Plethora of studies have demonstrated that different effector proteins like CLE peptide, AUX1, PHAN, WRKY, RALFs, LBD16, SPRYSEC etc. secreted by nematode mimicking genes playing role in lateral root development; growth hormone regulators; shoot meristem; procambium development; and  in immune responses. This review is a brief focusing on genes that are mimics in nematode and can be utilized for biotechnological strategies of plant disease control.