Changes in the Plant β-Sitosterol/Stigmasterol Ratio Caused by the Plant Parasitic Nematode Meloidogyne incognita

Sterols play a key role in various physiological processes of plants. Commonly, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol and campesterol represent the main plant sterols, cholesterol is often reported as trace sterol. Changes especially β-sitosterol/stigmasterol levels, can be induced by different biotic abiotic factors. Plant parasitic nematodes, such root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, are devastating pathogens known to circumvent defense mechanisms. In this study, we investigated changes sterols agricultural important crops, Brassica juncea (brown mustard), Cucumis sativus (cucumber), Glycine max (soybean), Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) Zea mays (corn), 21 days post inoculation (dpi) with M. incognita. The affected ratio, an increase decrease stigmasterol S. lycopersicum, G. max, C. Z. mays. Furthermore, levels increased tomato, cucumber corn, while were below detection limit respective uninfected To better understand gene expression analysis was conducted tomato cv. Moneymaker for sterol 22C-desaturase CYP710A11, responsible conversion stigmasterol. Our results showed that CYP710A11 line profile after incognita infection. Since plant-pathogen interactions, finding opens novel insights interactions.