Transcriptome Analysis of Eggplant Root in Response to Root-Knot Nematode Infection. Solanum torvum

Eggplant, which belongs to the Solanaceae family, is an important vegetable crop. However, its production is severely threatened by root-knot nematodes in many countries. Solanum torvum, a wild relative of eggplant, is employed worldwide as rootstock for eggplant cultivation due to its resistance to soil-borne diseases such as RKNs. In this study, to identify the RKN defense mechanisms, the transcriptomic profiles of eggplant and Solanum torvum were compared.The abscisic acid signaling pathway might be involved in plant-nematode interactions. qRT-PCR validated the expression levels of some of the DEGs in eggplant. These findings demonstrate the nematode-induced expression profiles and provide some insights into the nematode resistance mechanism in eggplant.