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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Grain Legume Genetics Physiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421507
Research Project: Enhancing Agronomic Performance and Nutritional Qualities of Pulse Crops

Location: Grain Legume Genetics Physiology Research

Title: Different concentrations of 2-undecanone triggers repellent and nematicidal responses in Caenorhabditis elegans

Author
item DAI, WEI - Huazhong Agricultural University
item ZHAI, YILE - Shandong University
item YANG, FAN - Huazhong Agricultural University
item CHEN, WEN - Huazhong Agricultural University
item LIU, CHEN - Huazhong Agricultural University
item TIAN, YARU - Huazhong Agricultural University
item HUANG, FENG - Huazhong Agricultural University
item CAI, MINMIN - Huazhong Agricultural University
item ZHENG, LONGYU - Huazhong Agricultural University
item CHENG, WANLI - Huazhong Agricultural University
item Chen, Weidong
item ZHANG, JIBIN - Huazhong Agricultural University

Submitted to: Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2025
Publication Date: 4/23/2025
Citation: Dai, W., Zhai, Y., Yang, F., Chen, W., Liu, C., Tian, Y., Huang, F., Cai, M., Zheng, L., Cheng, W., Chen, W., Zhang, J. 2025. Different concentrations of 2-undecanone triggers repellent and nematicidal responses in Caenorhabditis elegans. Scientific Reports. 15. Article 14186. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95332-z.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95332-z

Interpretive Summary: Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita causes root knot diseases on many economically important crops including vegetables, field crops, and grain legumes. The bacterial volatile organic compound 2-undecanone repelled nematodes and also killed nematodes on contact. However, it is not known how this organic compound works against nematodes, so this was studied using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is a well characterized "model" organism. We determined that 2-undecanone signal was detected by odor sensory neurons of the nematode, which repelled the nematodes. We also determined that 2-undecanone causes membranes in nematodes to rupture, resulting in contact killing. Understanding how nematodes react to 2-undecanone will facilitate development of new strategies for nematode control.

Technical Abstract: Volatile organic compound 2-undecanone exhibited dual functions against nematodes, repellency and contact killing on Meloidogyne incognita and Caenorhabditis elegans. However, the mechanism of its dual functions has been little revealed. Using chemotaxis experiments, we found that 2-undecanone signal detected through AWB odor sensory neurons of nematode, then transduced via cGMP pathway to induce repellent behavior. Moreover, we report that 2-undecanone induces intracellular calcium accumulation and lysosomal membrane rupture. We also identified Hsp70 A and V-ATPase A as the targets of 2-undecanone for contact killing. In addition, 2-undecanone altered sphingomyelin metabolism in wild-type C. elegans and its hsp-1 mutant, resulting in decreased acid sphingomyelinase activity, a reduced ceramide level, and an increased sphingomyelin level. These results indicated that 2-undecanone has dual functions and multi-targets: two target receptors: Hsp70 A and V-ATPase A against nematodes and one AWB odor sensory neurons repelled nematodes. It can decrease the tolerance of nematode to 2-undecanone appropriately, increasing the effective duration of 2-undecanone. Understanding the dual function mechanism of action of 2-undecanone will facilitate development of new strategies for nematode control.