1 SCIENTIFIC REPORTS | (2020) 10:6991 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63968-8 www.nature.com/scientificreports MiDaf16-like and MiSkn1-like gene families are reliable targets to develop biotechnological tools for the control and management of Meloidogyne incognita Marcos Fernando Basso 1 ✉ , Isabela Tristan Lourenço-Tessutti 1 , Reneida Aparecida Godinho Mendes 1,2 , Clidia Eduarda Moreira Pinto 1,2 , Caroline Bournaud 3 , François-Xavier Gillet 3 , Roberto Coiti Togawa 1 , Leonardo Lima Pepino de Macedo 1 , Janice de Almeida Engler 4 & Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa 1,5 ✉ Meloidogyne incognita is a plant-parasitic root-knot nematode (RKN, PPN) responsible for causing damage to several crops worldwide. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the DAF-16 and SKN-1 transcription factors (TFs) orchestrate aging, longevity, and defense responses to several stresses. Here, we report that MiDaf16-like1 and MiSkn1-like1, which are orthologous to DAF-16 and SKN-1 in C. elegans, and some of their targets, are modulated in M. incognita J2 during oxidative stress or plant parasitism. We used RNAi technology for the stable production of siRNAs in planta to downregulate the MiDaf16-like1 and MiSkn1-like1 genes of M. incognita during host plant parasitism. Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum overexpressing a hairpin-derived dsRNA targeting these genes individually (single-gene silencing) or simultaneously (double-gene silencing) were generated. T 2 plants were challenged with M. incognita and the number of eggs, galls, and J2, and the nematode reproduction factor (NRF) were evaluated. Our data indicate that MiDaf16-like1, MiSkn1-like1 and some genes from their networks are modulated in M. incognita J2 during oxidative stress or plant parasitism. Transgenic A. thaliana and N. tabacum plants with single- or double-gene silencing showed signifcant reductions in the numbers of eggs, J2, and galls, and in NRF. Additionally, the double-gene silencing plants had the highest resistance level. Gene expression assays confrmed the downregulation of the MiDaf16-like1 and MiSkn1-like1 TFs and defense genes in their networks during nematode parasitism in the transgenic plants. All these fndings demonstrate that these two TFs are potential targets for the development of biotechnological tools for nematode control and management in economically important crops. Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are one of the major agricultural pathogens worldwide 1 . PPNs disturb plant roots by altering the cell cycle, increasing the size of parasitized cells, and causing cell hyperproliferation. Tis process results in the compatible interaction and development of nematode feeding sites (galls) 2–6 , which dis- rupt the uptake of water and nutrients and reduce plant growth and yield 7–9 . Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are obligate sedentary endoparasites from the genus Meloidogyne spp. 10 . Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most commonly reported species, causing damage in several crops of economic importance worldwide 11 . Its life cycle comprises of six stages, namely, egg, J1 (frst-stage juvenile), J2 (second-stage juvenile), J3 (third-stage juvenile), J4 (fourth-stage juvenile), and adults (female and male). Te J3, J4, and females are typically sedentary endo- phytes, while the eggs and J2 are exophytes 11 . Te limited range of available control agents or resistant cultivars 1 Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília-DF, 70297-400, Brazil. 2 Federal University of Brasília, Brasília-DF, 70910-900, Brazil. 3 Université de Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRA, 38054, Grenoble, Cedex 9, France. 4 UMR Institut Sophia Agrobiotech INRA/CNRS/UNS, Sophia Antipolis, France. 5 Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília-DF, 71966-700, Brazil. ✉ e-mail: marcosbiotec@gmail.com; fatima.grossi@embrapa.br OPEN