Genetic variation in a plant-parasitic nematode is associated with host gene expression signals conserved across evolutionarily distant host plants

While a number of studies have been performed to identify plant genes that are recruited in this manner, there is much that remains unknown. One mechanism by which this behavior can be explored is by using a traditional genetics approach: identifying connections between genetic variation and phenotype variation.

To that end, we leverage experiments examining tissue from three host plant species, each infected with one of two genetically distinct strains of the endoparasite Meloidogyne hapla. Using RNA-Seq data, we identify plant gene expression patterns that differ according to the genetic background of the parasite they are infected with. We also show that parasite genotype-host expression phenotype associations are consistent across plant species.