Research led by Dundee University and the Invergowrie-based James Hutton Institute has given scientists new insight into a parasite that causes billions of pounds worth of damage to crops each year.
The international collaboration investigated the genome sequence and inner workings of yellow potato cyst nematodes (PCN), helping researchers uncover new ways into how it could be stopped.
Dr Sebastian Eves-van den Akker, of the university’s division of plant sciences, said: “This is an exciting discovery which reveals the potato cyst nematode’s ‘parasitism toolkit’.
“Once we had sequenced the genome of the nematode, we uncovered a hidden genetic code, or signpost, that points towards the molecular tools the nematode uses against plants. We believe this genetic code is actually how the nematode categorises which genes it needs when infecting plants so, in a way, we can use their own signpost against them.
“Using this information we will now be able to much better target how we can prevent nematode infection.”
PCN are currently extremely difficult to eradicate in the short term, and can persist in soil for up to two decades.
All major crops are thought to be infected by at least one species of plant-parasitic nematode, which cause damage valued at over £56.5 billion each year.
The vast majority of these nematodes feed on plant roots, meanwhile `injecting’ the plant with a variety of destructive proteins and plant-hormones.
