Dissertation Research: Ecological Factors Affecting Genetic Differentiation of Plant Virus Populations

电源9520676 这项研究将把大麦黄矮病毒（BYDV）的遗传变异模式与BYDV与病毒的草宿主和蚜虫载体之间的生态相互作用联系起来。 我们将使用自然病毒群体的血清学和测序调查来测量遗传变异性。 将通过温室实验评估生态相互作用，温室实验旨在区分两种解释病毒种群遗传结构的生态假设：由于病毒的不同定殖机会而发生遗传细分，或遗传细分反映了导致新感染的定殖概率的变异性。 本研究将提高我们对影响大麦黄矮病的进化和流行病学的生态因素的理解，这是一种主要的作物病害，并有助于我们了解植物病原体在自然群落中的生态。 它将通过提供关于不同野生宿主物种作为作物病毒接种物来源的相对重要性的信息来帮助管理这种疾病。

POWER 9520676 The proposed research will link patterns of genetic variability in barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) with ecological interactions between the BYDV, and the virus' grass hosts and aphid vectors. We will measure genetic variability using serological and sequencing surveys of natural virus populations. Ecological interactions will be assessed with greenhouse experiments designed to distinguish between two ecological hypotheses explaining genetic structure in populations of the virus: genetic subdivision occurs as a result of different colonization opportunities for the virus or genetic subdivision reflects variability in the probability of a colonization resulting in a new infection. This research will improve our understanding of ecological factors affecting the evolution and epidemiology of barley yellow dwarf, a major disease of crop plants, and contribute to our understanding of the ecology of plant pathogens in natural communities. It will aid in management of this disease by providing information about the relative importance of different wild host species as sources of virus inoculum for crop plants.