RNAi-mediated disruption of neuropeptide genes, nlp-3 and nlp-12, cause multiple behavioral defects in Meloidogyne incognita

Owing to the current deficiencies in chemical control options and unavailability of novel management strategies, root-knot nematode (M. incognita) infections remain widespread with significant socio-economic impacts. Helminth nervous systems are peptide-rich and appear to be putative drug targets that could be exploited by antihelmintic chemotherapy. Herein, to characterize the novel peptidergic neurotransmitters, in silico mining of M. incognita genomic and transciptomic datasets revealed the presence of 16 neuropeptide-like protein (nlp) genes with structural hallmarks of neuropeptide preproproteins; among which 13 nlps were PCR-amplified and sequenced. Two key nlp genes (Mi-nlp-3 and Mi-nlp-12) were localized to the basal bulb and tail region of nematode body via in situ hybridization assay. Mi-nlp-3 and Mi-nlp-12 were greatly expressed (in qRT-PCR assay) in the pre-parasitic juveniles and adult females, suggesting the association of these genes in host recognition, development and reproduction of M. incognita. In vitro knockdown of Mi-nlp-3 and Mi-nlp-12 via RNAi demonstrated the significant reduction in attraction and penetration of M. incognita in tomato root in Pluronic gel medium. A pronounced perturbation in development and reproduction of NLP-silenced worms was also documented in adzuki beans in CYG growth pouches. The deleterious phenotypes obtained due to NLP knockdown suggests that transgenic plants engineered to express RNA constructs targeting nlp genes may emerge as an environmentally viable option to manage nematode problems in crop plants.