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Updated: Dec 18, 2025

In vivo and In vitro Infection of Potato Roots with Plant Parasitic Nematodes for the Assessment of Induced Structural Changes
Published on: February 28, 2025
Enhancing potato resistance against root-knot nematodes using a plant-defence elicitor delivered by bacteria
1Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
Abstract:
The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne chitwoodi is a pest that affects potato production in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Here, to develop new strategies against M. chitwoodi infection of potato, we engineered Bacillus subtilis to secrete the plant-defence elicitor peptide StPep1. Pre-treatment of potato roots with the bacteria secreting StPep1 substantially reduced root galling, indicating that a bacterial secretion of a plant elicitor is an effective strategy for plant protection.
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