Some
researchers at the University of Bonn have developed a way to stop roundworms, specifically
the nematode Heterodera schachtii, from producing “tumorous nurse cell systems”
in the roots of beets, potatoes, or soy beans. The article focuses on the loss
in production of sugar from beet plants. The roundworms act as a parasite and
cause the plant to be a lot smaller from its normal size as well as the decrease
in the production of sugar.
First
the researchers thought the roundworm used the plant hormones to grow and nourish
itself. However, after blocking the hormone cytokinin in the plant Arabidopsis
thaliana, they were surprised to see that the roundworm kept growing! Their
next step of course was to block a receptor in the roundworm’s gene that is
crucial for the pathway of synthesizing cytokinin. Without this receptor, the
roundworm wasn't able to produce cytokinin and it “starve[d] the pest”. So it
was the “parasite” itself that was producing the hormone without any help from the
plant; well, except as a source of nutrition.
The
researchers are now trying to apply their findings to other agricultural plants
that experience a similar source of parasitism.
More
genetic modifications for our agricultural plants… what do you think?
Maybe a form of genetic modification to fight off parasites like this could be beneficial in the long term, but that does raise many different questions. If they are able to modify the plant/plants to block the secretion of this hormone to the parasite without there being any negative effects to the plant itself or any who consume it, then I could see no problem here. Hopefully they can find another way to deter the parasite away from these plants besides genetically modifying them too.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I guess I might be a bit confused, but in reading this my understanding was that they altered the genes of the roundworms themselves. If so, how do they intend to insert this altered version of the gene into the genome of the entire population of roundworms, especially if it leads to their death? And do they know if the worms perform any necessary ecological roles in conversion of soil substrates or anything to that effect? To me, it doesn't necessarily seem like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteWhat?? This is so weird. Is the nematode maybe using something from the cytokinin pathway to sort of finish making the product? How does it possibly have the molecular machinery required to produce a plant hormone?
ReplyDeleteI'm so confused. How do we keep this from spreading to other plants if we know its the parasite making cytokinin? And I totally stand with Neil Tyson Degasse on GMO of plants. We've been doing it sense we started agriculture. With out GMOs we'd have no good food.
ReplyDelete