Drought stress modulates nematode infection severity, plant growth, and stress related gene expression in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Under full irrigation (100% FC), Meloidogyne incognita displayed the highest infection parameters, while moderate (50% FC) and severe drought (30% FC) significantly reduced gall formation, egg mass production, and nematode reproduction factor. Vegetative growth traits declined progressively with decreasing soil moisture, exacerbated by nematode infestation. At the molecular level, antioxidant genes (CAT and SOD) were upregulated under moderate drought and nematode stress, but their expression decreased under severe and prolonged drought. In contrast, a drought responsive gene showed reduced expression with increasing water deficit. These results highlight a complex interaction between water stress and nematode parasitism, where moderate drought can stimulate defense mechanisms and limit nematode development, whereas severe drought suppresses both plant growth and defense gene expression. Effective irrigation management is thus crucial for mitigating nematode impact and maintaining tomato productivity under water limited conditions.
Keywords: Drought stress; Meloidogyne incognita; tomato; nematode severity; antioxidant enzymes; catalase (CAT); superoxide dismutase (SOD); drought-responsive gene expression; combined abiotic and biotic stress
How to cite this article: Ghareeb RY, Eid SM, Omran SA, Xiaoyue W, Drought Stress Reshapes Root-Knot Nematode Severity, Plant Growth, and Stress-Responsive Gene Expression in Tomato. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4s): 502-511; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.4s.61
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Conflict of interest: None