Gene Expression Analysis of Jasmonic Acid Related Genes during Root Infection of a Sugarbeet Cyst Nematode (Heterodera schachtii) on the Arabidopsis thaliana Plant

In several plant species, the establishment of systemically acquired resistance is associated with enhanced transcription of a large number of genes. This study aimed to analyze the expression of Jasmonic Acid (JA) related genes (COI 1, JAR 1, PDF 1.2A) in roots and shoots during cyst nematode infection on the Arabidopsis thaliana roots. The gene expression analysis results showed that while PDF1.2A was down-regulated in the roots, the reverse occurred in the leaf samples 24 hours after the sugarbeet cyst nematode inoculation. This indicates that the shoot defense system was activated during nematode root infection, thus, there is a systemic acquired resistance occurring in the shoots.