CHANGES IN ABUNDANCE OF TRANSLATABLE MESSENGER-RNA SPECIES IN POTATO ROOTS AND LEAVES FOLLOWING ROOT INVASION BY CYST-NEMATODE G-ROSTOCHIENSIS PATHOTYPES

Changes in gene expression have been studied for the interaction between potato plants carrying the H1 genotype and the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis. H1 confers resistance to the pathotype Ro1 of the nematode but is susceptible to the pathotype Ro2. Following synchronized infection of the roots with the two pathotypes, polysomal mRNA species have been extracted from root and leaf tissue over a time-course of 6 h to 6 days. Comparison of the pattern of [35S]-labelled translation products from the mRNA, have enabled stage-specific changes to be identified in plants exhibiting a resistance or a susceptible response. The results indicate nematode invasion does not lead to gross changes in the pattern of root gene expression, but does induce rapid and massive changes in leaf gene expression. The changes in both organs involve the appearance of several novel gene products. In addition, in the leaves, genes normally expressed in healthy plants have an altered pattern of expression. Whereas some effects are common to resistant and susceptible plants and most probably reflect general pathogenesis, others are highly specific for the plant's interaction with each nematode pathotype. © 1990.