Work in the nematology group focuses on the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida. However, some work on the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp) and virus vector nematodes is also undertaken.

The group is currently led by John Jones and Vivian Blok supported by a part time consultant, Mark Phillips. Three staff members, Anne Holt, Alison Paterson, Ailsa Smith, support the work of the group and we host varying numbers of students and visiting workers.

The biological targets of our work are:

• a better understanding of the role of nematode secreted proteins in the susceptible interaction between G. pallida and potato
• understanding the molecular basis of virulence in potato cyst nematodes.

Specific work areas include:

• genomics of G. pallida
• horizontal gene transfer in plant parasitic nematodes
• the plant response to nematodes
• pathogenicity in potato cyst nematodes.

We also provide support to our colleagues work in breeding for resistance to potato cyst nematodes and are currently developing better quantitative diagnostic tools for G. pallida and G. rostochiensis. These tools will help us assess how these nematodes survive in a changing environment.

Resources

Characterised genetic resources including the Commonwealth Potato Collection and a wide range of G. pallida populations (from both the UK and South America) that have been assessed for virulence against various resistance sources are kept at SCRI. In addition, we have produced lines of G. pallida repeatedly selected for virulence against quantitative resistance sources.

Quantitative diagnostic tools for PCN have been developed in the group. These tools are being validated in collaboration with SASA to allow their use in large scale land screening for PCN. These tools can also be used to monitor PCN.

Ability to run RNAi studies on PCN for studies of gene function in conjunction with other techniques including in planta assays of protein function.

Tools (robots, high throughput sequencing, bioinformatics pipelines) for production and analysis of ESTs from nematodes.

Collaboration

We have collaborative links in the following areas:

• G. pallida genomics – Leeds University, Rothamsted Research, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Centre
• comparative nematode genomics – INRA Antibes
• functional analysis of nematode proteins – Wageningen University, INRA Rennes.

We also have strong links with two groups in Ghent, Belgium. John Jones is a “Guest Professor” at the University of Ghent and contributes to the teaching of two MSc courses. John Jones and Vivian Blok both have links with various staff at ILVO, based in Ghent.

John Jones is chair of COST 872 “Exploiting genomics to understand plant-nematode interactions”. This grant provides funding for meetings and collaborative research between a large number of Nematology groups.