Collaborative Research: Genetic and Environmental Causes of Willow Hybrid Plant Resistance to Herbivores and a Pathogen

Brunsfeld，S. J. DEB-9615617 该项目将研究植物杂交对植物取食昆虫和锈病病原体抗性的影响。 PI将使用两个杨柳物种（绢毛柳和S.在其分布区的大部分地区自然杂交。 分子标记将用于确定杂交中使用的亲本的纯度，并用于鉴定自然渗入的植物。 该研究将使用在两种亲本环境中生长的柳树的遗传类别之间的抗性比较，并将测量在存在和不存在锈病病原体的情况下遗传类别和环境对幼苗适合度的影响。 该研究还将通过实验确定与纯亲本相比，基因渗入是否会影响基因渗入植物的抗性。 杂交植物广泛用于农业和林业树木育种。 这些植物通常具有生长和产量特性，使它们更有生产力用于商业用途。 然而，在一些情况下，杂交植物被发现对疾病高度敏感。 了解杂交对抗性的影响对于控制杂交种群中的虫害和疾病可能是重要的，并且可以揭示环境和遗传因素，这些因素将提高杂交植物在农业和林业中的商业成功。

Brunsfeld, S. J. DEB-9615617 This project will study the consequences of plant hybridization on resistance to plant-feeding insects and a rust pathogen. The PIs will use a model system of two willow species (Salix sericea and S. eriocephala) that naturally hybridize in large parts of their range. Molecular markers will be used to establish the purity of parents used in crosses and for identifying naturally introgressed plants. The study will use comparisons of resistance among genetic classes of willows growing in the two parental environments, and will measure the effects of genetic class and environment on fitness of seedlings in the presence and absence of a rust pathogen. The study will also determine experimentally if introgression affects resistance of introgressed plants compared to pure parents. Hybrid plants are widely used for agricultural and forest tree breeding. These plants often have growth and yield characteristics that make them more productive for commercial use. In several cases, however, hybrid plants have been found to be highly susceptible to disease. Understanding the consequences of hybridization on resistance may be important to controlling insect damage and diseases in hybrid populations and could reveal environmental and genetic factors that will improve commercial success of hybrid plants in agriculture and forestry.