PubMed · 2026-05-14
Plants and parasitic nematodes are locked in a sophisticated back-and-forth chemical conversation that determines whether the parasite succeeds or fails. Soil microbes act as go-betweens, and the outcome hinges on how each party interprets the other's signals at critical moments in the nematode's life cycle.
Parasitic nematodes detect host-derived metabolites, proteins, and RNA molecules to locate plants and assess their condition before attacking.
Plants actively respond to nematode-produced pheromones and proteins, triggering defenses or, in some cases, accommodating the parasite.
Soil microbes mediate communication between plant and nematode, influencing developmental decisions in both organisms — making parasitism success a three-way conversation, not a two-way one.