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Secreted effectors represent the molecular interface between the nematode and its host plant. Studies that aimed at deciphering molecular plant-nematode interactions are hampered by technical hurdles that prevent the generation of transgenic nematodes. However, RNA interference (RNAi) has proven to be a valuable tool to specifically knock-down nematode effector genes, both ex planta and in planta. Plant-mediated RNAi of nematode genes not only facilitates functional characterization of effectors but also lends itself to a novel control strategy against plant-parasitic nematodes. Here, we describe currently used methods to silence genes in plant-parasitic cyst and root-knot nematodes.
Michelle A. Saint‐Germain (Sun,) studied this question.