Arabidopsis thaliana as a new model host for plant‐parasitic nematodes

Summary We have established culture conditions for successful infection and development of several economically important cyst‐forming and root‐knot nematodes on Arabidopsis thaliana under monoxenic conditions. Complete life cycles were obtained with the sedentary cyst nematodes Heterodera schachtii, H. trifolii, H. cajani and the root‐knot nematodes Meloidogyne incognita and M. arenariaas well as with the migratory nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. In contrast, H. goettingiana and Globodera rostochiensis were unable to develop on Arabidopsis roots. Tissue‐culture quality agar and medium conditions optimized for hydroponic root culture were essential for successful infections. Detailed in‐vivo observations were made inside Arabidopsis roots during the early infection stages of M. incognita and during complete development of H. schachtii. Seventy‐four different ecotypes of Arabidopsis were screened for their susceptibility towards H. schachtii resulting in a range of infection rates. None of the ecotypes tested showed complete resistance in vitro. The use of Arabidopsis as a host for plant‐parasitic nematodes will provide a new model system for the molecular genetic analysis of this interaction.