Nematodes, tiny soil-dwelling animals, cause billions of dollars of crop losses each year. But researchers at U-Missouri and the University of Bonn “have found the first genetic evidence linking one method these animals use to attack plants,” says a Missouri release. The scientists “proved that nematodes use a specialized hormone to help them feed.” The research could allow development of crop varieties with enhanced resistance to nematodes. With the aid of advanced genetic tools, the team discovered the microscopic worms create their own form of plant cytokinin, a hormone that promotes cell division. By secreting the hormone into the plant, nematodes control the cell cycle leading to the production of ideal feeding sites for them.
Nematodes are the most numerous multicellular animals on earth, says a U-Nebraska website. “A handful of soil will contain thousands of the microscopic worms, many of them parasites of insects, plants or animals.”
The study, “A parasitic nematode releases cytokinin that controls cell division and orchestrates feeding site formation in host plants,” was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,” and is available here.