Poster: Late and Moved Abstracts

Abs # 1400: Plant cell surface changes induced by root-knot nematode infection.

Presenter:	Guhl, Katherine E, 88764@udel.edu
Authors	Guhl, Katherine E (A)   Haynes, Janine G (A)   Sherrier, Janine  (A)
Affiliations:	(A): Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware

Root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are microscopic endoparasites that invade root tissue and deplete plant resources. Meloidogyne incognita infect a wide range of economically important host plants causing the formation of root galls. The nematode initiates development of multinucleate giant cells, which serve as permanent feeding sites within the root and provide nourishment for the developing worm to complete its life cycle. Plant cell surface rearrangement occurs at the plasma membrane and cell wall during the infection process. These changes were studied using proteomic and microscopic analyses. Medicago truncatula were inoculated with J2-phase Meloidogyne incognita and root tissue, representing a developmental time series, was collected for analysis. Root plasma membrane proteins were isolated and then separated using 2D-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Roots from each sample date were examined using a novel microscopy technique to track the progression of the nematode infection process.