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Water and Nutrient Transport in Nematode Feeding Sites

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Genomics and Molecular Genetics of Plant-Nematode Interactions

Abstract

Plant parasitic nematodes have developed complex strategies to obtain nutrients from their hosts. In many cases specialised feeding cells are induced which establish a strong sink for water and nutrients. This chapter describes the different structural, physiological and molecular mechanisms by which host plants were found to supply water and solutes over long and short distances. A number of specific adaptations are found, especially in short-distance transport in feeding cells of sedentary nematodes. They include wall modifications, facilitated water transport, and active solute transport via transport proteins along the apoplast as well as symplasmic transport via plasmodesmata. Feeding cells are unique in that they combine opposing phenomena at the same time: on the one hand a strong sink is generated by high metabolic activity and accumulation of solutes. On the other hand large amounts of water and solutes are withdrawn by the nematodes from the feeding cells without reducing their viability and productiveness. Finally, knowledge on the nature of nutrients and nematode adaptations to limited nutrient supply is presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRES—Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Molecular Phytomedicine, University Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten-Str. 13, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Florian M. W. Grundler

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  1. Florian M. W. Grundler
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  2. Julia Hofmann
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Correspondence to Florian M. W. Grundler .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Plant Pathology, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, United Kingdom

    John Jones

  2. , Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, 9000, Belgium

    Godelieve Gheysen

  3. , Environmental Sciences, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Carlos III. s/n, Toledo, E-45071, Spain

    Carmen Fenoll

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Grundler, F.M., Hofmann, J. (2011). Water and Nutrient Transport in Nematode Feeding Sites. In: Jones, J., Gheysen, G., Fenoll, C. (eds) Genomics and Molecular Genetics of Plant-Nematode Interactions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0434-3_20

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