Abstract
Early nodulin (ENOD) genes have been de¿ ned as genes
expressed in legumes during nodule formation. Recent
studies, however, revealed a number of homologues of
ENOD40s in non-legume plants. Both in legumes and
non-legumes ENOD40s are thought to play a role in the
development of vascular tissues. In situ localisation of
ENOD40 transcripts in root-knot nematode-infected roots
of the legumeMedicagotruncatula revealed that this plant
gene is expressed in and around giant cells at 6 days
post infection (dpi). To test the expression of ENOD40
in a non-legume upon infection with root-knot and
cyst nematodes, the expression of endogenous ENOD40
promoter-gusA fusion was studied in nematode-infected
tomato roots at 1, 3, 7 and 14 dpi. In the main root, GUSstained
areas were irregularly alternated with unstained
areas. The lateral roots showed staining in the root-tip.
Occasionally,GUS staining was observed in syncytia and
giant cells. Sections from both GUS stained and nonstained
feeding sites were investigated microscopically,
and the results con¿ rmed our macroscopic observations.
Hence, ENOD40 expression in tomato is basically
unaffected by the induction of feeding sites by root-knot
and cyst nematodes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Nematology Symposium abstracts |
| Place of Publication | Leiden |
| Publisher | Brill |
| Pages | 221 (281) |
| Volume | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2002 |