The Effect of Host-Induced Me-chs-1 Gene Silencing on the Pathogenicity of Meloidogyne enterolobii

Meloidogyne enterolobii, is a devastating pathogen capable of overcoming conventional resistance genes. This study presents the first investigation into targeting the chitin synthase gene Me-chs-1 in M. enterolobii using host-induced gene silencing (HIGS). Our results demonstrate that HIGS effectively suppresses Me-chs-1 expression, leading to a drastic reduction in nematode reproductive capacity, with the most effective transgenic line showing over 82% decrease in total egg production. Additionally, notable developmental deformities were observed in the nematodes. This study confirms Me-chs-1 as a promising target for controlling M. enterolobii and lays a solid foundation for developing novel resistance breeding strategies and eco-friendly nematicides.