Methods and compositions comprising nematode signalling compounds

Abstract

Plant parasitic nematodes prefer to infect uninfected over infected hosts. A specific mixture of pheromones (a.k.a. ascarosides) tells plant parasitic nematodes the host status. We use a mixture of pheromones to direct nematodes away from the healthy roots. The pheromone mixture will be used for seed treatments to protect plant roots from infection by telling the nematodes that the plant is already infested and that they should move away and find new hosts. Chemical synthesis of pheromones is expensive, particularly when it is contains multiple compounds. Therefore, we obtained a partial mixture fromgrowth medium which provided 15% more directional movement away from the application site. We complete the necessary pheromone from the growth medium ofspecies to direct nematodes away from the seeds and roots of healthy plants. The pheromone mixture will be used to in the irrigation water or seed treatment to direct the plant parasitic nematodes away from the plant roots.