Root-knot nematodes (RKN) are pathogens affecting soybean production worldwide. Rmi1 (Resistance to M. incognita 1) is an additive gene for M. incognita resistance identified in soybean cv. Forrest, which resides in a major QTL on Chromosome 10. It has been established that Rmi1 is associated with multiple polymorphisms in the promoter and sequences of genes encoding -1,4-endoglucancase (EG) and pectin methylesterase (PME1), both of which exhibit higher expression in susceptible than in Rmi1 resistant plants. EG expression is correlated with RKN feeding cell formation, indicating EG functions as a susceptibility factor for soybean resistance to M. incognita. Plants, including genetically modified and transgenic plants, cells and seeds thereof that lack expression or functional gene products of EG and/or PME1 are provided. Compositions and methods for reducing or removing EG and/or PME1 expression in plants are also described.