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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427579
Research Project: Emerging Stress Challenges and Composition of Alfalfa Pathobiome

Location: Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory

Title: Genome assembly and annotation of the alfalfa cyst nematode (Heterodera medicaginis)

Author
item Postnikova, Olga
item Wram, Catherine
item Grinstead, Samuel
item Reis Vieira, Paulo
item Nemchinov, Lev

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/11/2025
Publication Date: 10/6/2025
Citation: Postnikova, O.A., Wram, C.L., Grinstead, S.C., Reis Vieira, P.C., Nemchinov, L.G. 2025. Genome assembly and annotation of the alfalfa cyst nematode (Heterodera medicaginis). Journal of Nematology. 57. Article e2025-1. https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2025-0047.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2025-0047

Interpretive Summary: The alfalfa cyst nematode is an invasive and pathogenic species parasitizing on the agriculturally important forage crop alfalfa. It can cause severe yield losses in alfalfa reaching 46% of the green matter. As of today, the genome of this nematode has not been published in the scientific literature. Here, for the first time, we assembled a draft genome of the nematode and carried out initial gene annotations that will help to determine gene identities and their anticipated biological functions. The research is important as it provides genomic insights into the damaging pest recently discovered in the U.S. and affecting the third most valuable crop in the country. It is expected that the availability of the nematode’s genome will be of interest to plant pathologists, nematologists, and scientists working in the field of alfalfa improvement and will help them to establish ways to control or eradicate the nematode.

Technical Abstract: The alfalfa cyst nematode (Heterodera medicaginis) is an invasive and pathogenic species parasitizing the agriculturally important forage crop alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). To date, no genome assembly of H. medicaginis has been reported in the literature. In this study, for the first time, we assembled a draft genome of this species. This research is important as it provides genomic insights into a damaging pest recently discovered in the United States that affects the third most valuable crop in the country.