Location: Nematology Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-22000-283-00
Start Date: Feb 27, 2012
End Date: Feb 26, 2017
1. Determining the roles and modes of action of peptides and associated proteases and lipids and steroids that regulate plant-parasitic nematode development and hatching will identify internal targets for inhibition. Responses of these molecular targets to external signals, such as plant chemicals, will identify pathways to exploit to disrupt normal life processes. 2. Evaluating mixed species cover crops and green manures and application of improved mustard seed meal amendment combinations will lead to enhanced suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes and increased crop yields relative to single species strategies. Planting grafted vegetables in mustard seed meals and use of beneficial microbes will suppress soilborne diseases on vegetable crops and increase yields. 3. Determining how nematodes respond physiologically to plant- and microbe-derived natural products will identify compounds that can be used for nematode management, provide efficient and rapid screens for discovering nematode control compounds, and enhance the identification, selection and use of organisms for suppressing nematode populations.