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

Power 9520676这项拟议的研究将把大麦黄矮病毒(BYDV)的遗传变异模式与大麦黄矮病毒与该病毒的草宿主和蚜媒之间的生态相互作用联系起来。我们将通过对自然病毒群体的血清学和测序调查来衡量遗传变异性。将通过温室实验来评估生态相互作用，这些实验旨在区分解释病毒种群遗传结构的两个生态学假说：基因细分是由于病毒的不同殖民机会发生的，或者基因细分反映了导致新感染的殖民概率的差异。本研究将加深我们对大麦黄矮病这一农作物主要病害的进化和流行病学影响的生态因子的理解，有助于我们对自然群落中植物病原菌的生态学的理解。它将通过提供有关不同野生寄主物种作为作物病毒接种源的相对重要性的信息，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.