Below ground attack by root knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola predisposes rice to blast disease. Oryza sativa Japonica Group

Magnaporthe oryzae (rice blast) and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola are causing two of the most important pathogenic diseases jeopardizing rice production. Here, we show that root-knot nematode infestation on rice roots leads to important above-ground changes in plant immunity gene expression, which is correlated with significantly enhanced susceptibility to blast disease. Overall design: Differential expression analysis between controls rice shoots and shoots from root knot nematode (M. graminicola) infected rice at two time points.