Induction of Glutaredoxin Expression in Response to Desiccation Stress in the Foliar Nematode Aphelenchoides fragariae.

Desiccation tolerance plays an important role in the overwinter survival of the foliar nematode Aphelenchoides fragariae. Survival rates of A. fragariae were compared with those of the anhydrobiotic soil-dwelling nematode Aphelenchus avenae after desiccation (90% RH), cold (4°C) and osmotic (500 mM sucrose) stress treatments. A. fragariae formed aggregates during desiccation and showed higher survival rates than A. avenae under desiccation and osmotic stress. Analysis of transcripts with Illumina RNA-seq indicated that glutaredoxin and other antioxidant-related genes were up-regulated under desiccation stress. Quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated 2.8 fold and 1.3 fold up-regulation of a glutaredoxin gene under desiccated and osmotic stress, respectively, suggesting the participation of antioxidant mechanisms in desiccation tolerance of A. fragariae.