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Development of the Root-Knot Nematode Feeding Cell

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Cell Biology of Plant Nematode Parasitism

Part of the book series: Plant Cell Monographs ((CELLMONO,volume 15))

The root-knot nematode feeding cell is a remarkable example of the reprogramming of plant cells by biotrophic pathogens. With the aid of molecules secreted into plant cells from three esophageal gland cells, the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne sp. orchestrates a fundamental change in those cells surrounding its head in the plant root. These cells expand in volume over tenfold and become a virtual factory for the production of cytoplasm that is a rich source of nutrients for the nematode. Because of the large size of the cells, Treub (1887) coined the term “giant-cell” to describe them. Giant-cells have attracted the attention of biologists for over 100 years (reviewed in Christie 1936) and they continue to challenge investigators that are using modern techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry, and microscopy to answer long-held questions. This chapter examines giant-cells from a cell biologist's point of view, i.e., with an eye on identifying notable features of development at a cellular and subcellular level.

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  1. Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63132, USA

    R. Howard Berg, Thomas Fester & Christopher G. Taylor

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Berg, R.H., Fester, T., Taylor, C.G. (2009). Development of the Root-Knot Nematode Feeding Cell. In: Berg, R.H., Taylor, C.G. (eds) Cell Biology of Plant Nematode Parasitism. Plant Cell Monographs, vol 15. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85215-5_5

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