Endoparasitic sedentary nematodes infecting plant roots are an important problem of modern agriculture. In a compatible interaction with their hosts, cyst nematodes use stylet for mechanical root penetration. The specialized nematode oesophageal glands produce and secrete proteins that facilitate the migration within the root and change morphogenetic program of plant cells. The changes in selected initial cell involve cell cycle reactivation, cell wall modification and boosting of plant primary and secondary metabolism.

The plant hormone (phytohormone), auxin plays a crucial role in a wide variety of growth and developmental processes involving cell elongation, division and differentiation. The cellular responses to auxin involve not only electrophysiological changes at the plasma membrane, but also fast alterations of gene expression. Currently, the involvement of auxin in the regulation of gene expression is well-recognized. Using differential screening approaches, a number of auxin-regulated genes have been identified, mainly in elongating tissues and dividing cells.

A pathway of auxin action, from perception to response, has not been completely defined, as yet. However, there are now good evidences that auxin-binding protein ABP1, which is associated with a membrane docking protein is a G-protein-coupled receptor. The signal transduction pathway appear to involve activation of phospholipase A2 leading to the production of lipid second messengers which activate the plasma membrane H+-ATPase by a protein kinase-dependent mechanism. Increasing evidences now suggest that MAP kinase pathway is involved in mediating auxin responses.