High-resolution single-nematode transcriptomic datasets of plant-parasitic nematodes from juveniles to adults.

Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) pose major agricultural threats, yet their transcriptional regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Deciphering these mechanisms is critical for advancing knowledge of nematode development and host interactions, and for guiding the rational design of integrated control strategies. However, the lack of reliable synchronization of nematode development within plant hosts, together with the stringent requirements of high-throughput sequencing library preparation, hinders comprehensive transcriptomic profiling across distinct developmental stages. To overcome this limitation, high-resolution, single-nematode RNA-seq data was generated for eight developmental stages of Meloidogyne incognita (from second-stage juveniles to adults) using a low-input Smart-seq2 approach. The resulting dataset comprises 75 high-quality transcriptome libraries with at least five biological replicates per stage, enabling robust and reproducible analyses. This resource lays the groundwork for the discovery of stage-specific regulatory genes and the development of targeted PPN management strategies. All datasets are openly accessible via the NCBI repository (accession number: SRP620254 and GSE315311), providing a lasting, community-wide resource for advancing plant-parasitic nematode research.