The production of a synthetic chemodisruptive peptide in planta precludes Meloidogyne incognita multiplication in Solanum melongena

Abstract Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) impose a severe constraint on eggplant productivity and sustainable options to minimize nematode populations below the economic threshold level are limited. In the present study, transgenic eggplants expressing a synthetic peptide (under the control of CaMV35S promoter) that disrupts nematode chemoreception were used as a proof-of-concept to assess the potential of hitherto-underexploited peptide-based transgenics in conferring nematode resistance. Six transgenic eggplant lines were characterized which were genotyped via PCR, qRT-PCR and Southern hybridization analyses. When challenge inoculated with RKN, all the peptide-expressing lines exhibited detrimental effect on nematode host location and penetration of host root. Consequently, perturbed infection ability and parasitic success of RKN on transgenic root was documented with 64.39–79.65% reduction in nematode multiplication. Root exudates of transgenic eggplant strongly elevated the expression of acetylcholinesterase genes (Mi-ace-1 and Mi-ace-2) in RKN. This altered expression of Mi-ace-1 and Mi-ace-2 was correlated with the efficacy of exudates as presoak solution for nematodes that affected their attraction to wild-type eggplant roots. The current study reestablishes the efficacy of novel, biosafe chemoreception-disruptive peptides in suppressing the nematode parasitism when expressed in planta. Gene pyramiding-based transgenic deployment of this peptide with proteinase inhibitor such as cystatin can satisfactorily increase the global agricultural output.