1 SCIENTIFIC REPORTS | (2019) 9:13256 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49725-6 www.nature.com/scientificreports Transcriptome analysis of Globodera pallida from the susceptible host Solanum tuberosum or the resistant plant Solanum sisymbriifolium Rinu Kooliyottil 1 , Louise-Marie Dandurand 1 , Joseph C. Kuhl 1 , Allan Caplan 2 , Fangming Xiao 2 , Benjamin Mimee 3 & Joël Lafond-Lapalme 4 A transcriptome analysis of G. pallida juveniles collected from S. tuberosum or S. sisymbriifolium 24 h post infestation was performed to provide insights into the parasitic process of this nematode. A total of 41 G. pallida genes were found to be signifcantly diferentially expressed when parasitizing the two plant species. Among this set, 12 were overexpressed when G. pallida was parasitizing S. tuberosum and 29 were overexpressed when parasitizing S. sisymbriifolium. Out of the 12 genes, three code for secretory proteins; one is homologous to efector gene Rbp-4, the second is an uncharacterized protein with a signal peptide sequence, and the third is an ortholog of a Globodera rostochiensis efector belonging to the 1106 efector family. Other overexpressed genes from G. pallida when parasitizing S. tuberosum were either unknown, associated with a stress or defense response, or associated with sex diferentiation. Efector genes namely Eng-1, Cathepsin S-like cysteine protease, cellulase, and two unknown genes with secretory characteristics were over expressed when G. pallida was parasitizing S. sisymbriifolium relative to expression from S. tuberosum. Our fndings provide insight into gene regulation of G. pallida while infecting either the trap crop S. sisymbriifolium or the susceptible host, S. tuberosum. Cyst nematodes have been identifed as some of the greatest threat to agricultural crops worldwide 1 . Te potato cyst nematodes (PCN) Globodera pallida Stone (1973) and G. rostochiensis Wollenweber, (1923) Skarbilovich, (1959) are found in potato production areas and are of regulatory signifcance throughout the world 1,2 . In the United States, Globodera pallida was frst detected in 2006 in a potato processing facility in Idaho. Currently, there are no commercially acceptable potato varieties with G. pallida resistance suitable for production in the northwestern United States 3 . Globodera pallida possesses highly sophisticated machinery to locate and parasitize its host plant 4–6 . Development and reproduction of potato cyst nematodes relies on the establishment and maintenance of a syn- cytium inside the host root. Once a feeding site is established, the nematode engages in a sustained biotrophic interaction with its host. Efectors, small proteins produced in the nematode’s esophageal glands, are delivered into plant cells through the stylet, and mediate this biotrophic interaction 4,7 . Efector proteins manipulate the host cell by modulating a variety of cellular processes such as suppression of host defense or stress responses and cause signifcant transcriptional re-programming in the host cell nucleus 8 . Te early infection stages of the nematode life cycle are crucial in deciding the fate of the nematode. Te ability of the nematode to overcome hostile condi- tions presented by the plant determines whether or not the nematode completes its life cycle. In a resistant host, the plant has acquired the capacity to recognize the parasite (ofen through the detection of specifc efectors) to 1 Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA. 2 Department of Plant Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA. 3 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Horticulture Research and Development Centre, 430 boul. Gouin, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, J3B 3E6, Canada. 4 McGill University Health Centre and Research Institute, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to L.-M.D. (email: lmd@uidaho.edu) Received: 1 April 2019 Accepted: 30 August 2019 Published: xx xx xxxx OPEN