I. Background

Root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne spp. (Fig. 1a) induces stereotypical giant cells in host roots (Fig. 1b). Using a subtractive cDNA cloning approach, we previously identified 197 tomato genes expressed in giant cells; these sequences are available in GenBank. Because these genes are not expressed in healthy roots, we used an informatics approach to establish their expression profile in tomato.

Figure 1a Figure 1a. Newly hatched M. incognita larva.
S: feeding stylet;
arrows: lipid storage granules.
Figure 1b. Toluidine blue stained trans-verse section of a root-knot nematode gall in tomato; four giant cells are evident. Figure 1b

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