Characterization of the phenotypic and genotypic tolerance to abiotic stresses of natural populations of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
Abstract Entomopathogenic nematodes are effective biocontrol agents against arthropod pests. However, their efficacy is limited due to sensitivity to environmental extremes. The objective of the present study was to establish a foundation of genetic-based selection tools for beneficial traits of hea...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2020-06-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67097-0 |
| _version_ | 1819194856822538240 |
|---|---|
| author | Noa Levy Adi Faigenboim Liora Salame Carlos Molina Ralf-Udo Ehlers Itamar Glazer Dana Ment |
| author_facet | Noa Levy Adi Faigenboim Liora Salame Carlos Molina Ralf-Udo Ehlers Itamar Glazer Dana Ment |
| author_sort | Noa Levy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Entomopathogenic nematodes are effective biocontrol agents against arthropod pests. However, their efficacy is limited due to sensitivity to environmental extremes. The objective of the present study was to establish a foundation of genetic-based selection tools for beneficial traits of heat and desiccation tolerance in entomopathogenic nematodes. Screening of natural populations enabled us to create a diverse genetic and phenotypic pool. Gene expression patterns and genomic variation were studied in natural isolates. Heterorhabditis isolates were phenotyped by heat- and desiccation-stress bioassays to determine their survival rates compared to a commercial line. Transcriptomic study was carried out for the commercial line, a high heat-tolerant strain, and for the natural, low heat-tolerant isolate. The results revealed a higher number of upregulated vs. downregulated transcripts in both isolates vs. their respective controls. Functional annotation of the differentially expressed transcripts revealed several known stress-related genes and pathways uniquely expressed. Genome sequencing of isolates with varied degrees of stress tolerance indicated variation among the isolates regardless of their phenotypic characterization. The obtained data lays the groundwork for future studies aimed at identifying genes and molecular markers as genetic selection tools for enhancement of entomopathogenic nematodes ability to withstand environmental stress conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T02:03:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c87ac4a707d84bc3a5836367fcb423c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T02:03:31Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-c87ac4a707d84bc3a5836367fcb423c42022-12-21T18:03:55ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222020-06-0110111610.1038/s41598-020-67097-0Characterization of the phenotypic and genotypic tolerance to abiotic stresses of natural populations of Heterorhabditis bacteriophoraNoa Levy0Adi Faigenboim1Liora Salame2Carlos Molina3Ralf-Udo Ehlers4Itamar Glazer5Dana Ment6Department of Entomology and the Nematology and Chemistry units, Plant Protection Institute; Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), the Volcani CenterInstitute of Plant Science; Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), the Volcani CenterDepartment of Entomology and the Nematology and Chemistry units, Plant Protection Institute; Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), the Volcani Centere-nema GmbH, Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie und biologischen Pflanzenschutz Klausdorfer Str. 28–36e-nema GmbH, Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie und biologischen Pflanzenschutz Klausdorfer Str. 28–36Department of Entomology and the Nematology and Chemistry units, Plant Protection Institute; Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), the Volcani CenterDepartment of Entomology and the Nematology and Chemistry units, Plant Protection Institute; Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), the Volcani CenterAbstract Entomopathogenic nematodes are effective biocontrol agents against arthropod pests. However, their efficacy is limited due to sensitivity to environmental extremes. The objective of the present study was to establish a foundation of genetic-based selection tools for beneficial traits of heat and desiccation tolerance in entomopathogenic nematodes. Screening of natural populations enabled us to create a diverse genetic and phenotypic pool. Gene expression patterns and genomic variation were studied in natural isolates. Heterorhabditis isolates were phenotyped by heat- and desiccation-stress bioassays to determine their survival rates compared to a commercial line. Transcriptomic study was carried out for the commercial line, a high heat-tolerant strain, and for the natural, low heat-tolerant isolate. The results revealed a higher number of upregulated vs. downregulated transcripts in both isolates vs. their respective controls. Functional annotation of the differentially expressed transcripts revealed several known stress-related genes and pathways uniquely expressed. Genome sequencing of isolates with varied degrees of stress tolerance indicated variation among the isolates regardless of their phenotypic characterization. The obtained data lays the groundwork for future studies aimed at identifying genes and molecular markers as genetic selection tools for enhancement of entomopathogenic nematodes ability to withstand environmental stress conditions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67097-0 |
| spellingShingle | Noa Levy Adi Faigenboim Liora Salame Carlos Molina Ralf-Udo Ehlers Itamar Glazer Dana Ment Characterization of the phenotypic and genotypic tolerance to abiotic stresses of natural populations of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Scientific Reports |
| title | Characterization of the phenotypic and genotypic tolerance to abiotic stresses of natural populations of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora |
| title_full | Characterization of the phenotypic and genotypic tolerance to abiotic stresses of natural populations of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of the phenotypic and genotypic tolerance to abiotic stresses of natural populations of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of the phenotypic and genotypic tolerance to abiotic stresses of natural populations of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora |
| title_short | Characterization of the phenotypic and genotypic tolerance to abiotic stresses of natural populations of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora |
| title_sort | characterization of the phenotypic and genotypic tolerance to abiotic stresses of natural populations of heterorhabditis bacteriophora |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67097-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT noalevy characterizationofthephenotypicandgenotypictolerancetoabioticstressesofnaturalpopulationsofheterorhabditisbacteriophora AT adifaigenboim characterizationofthephenotypicandgenotypictolerancetoabioticstressesofnaturalpopulationsofheterorhabditisbacteriophora AT liorasalame characterizationofthephenotypicandgenotypictolerancetoabioticstressesofnaturalpopulationsofheterorhabditisbacteriophora AT carlosmolina characterizationofthephenotypicandgenotypictolerancetoabioticstressesofnaturalpopulationsofheterorhabditisbacteriophora AT ralfudoehlers characterizationofthephenotypicandgenotypictolerancetoabioticstressesofnaturalpopulationsofheterorhabditisbacteriophora AT itamarglazer characterizationofthephenotypicandgenotypictolerancetoabioticstressesofnaturalpopulationsofheterorhabditisbacteriophora AT danament characterizationofthephenotypicandgenotypictolerancetoabioticstressesofnaturalpopulationsofheterorhabditisbacteriophora |