BREAD: Towards Biological Control of Insect Oil Palm Pests

主要研究者：Raymond St. Leger（马里兰州大学）联合主要研究者：托马斯A。米勒（加州大学，滨江）合作者：查尔斯杜赫斯特（巴布亚新几内亚油棕研究协会，巴布亚新几内亚）节肢动物害虫破坏了世界上大约25%的农作物年产量。自20世纪40年代引入化学杀虫剂以来，节肢动物害虫控制严重依赖化学杀虫剂。然而，昆虫抗药性的发展以及这些化学品对环境和健康的影响刺激了对替代虫害控制方法的探索。巴布亚新几内亚（PNG）每年80%以上的虫害报告来自一群被统称为Sexava的长角蝗虫，它们在大规模爆发时会使油棕榈落叶。通过概念验证基础研究，该项目将侧重于了解和测试减轻长角蚱蜢虫害的替代虫害控制方法。 真菌绿僵菌菌株443对长角有特异性，可以低成本大量生产，但充分的作物保护要求真菌更有效。第一，M.绿僵菌将用作杀虫蛋白的递送系统以提高真菌的毒力。M.将对绿僵菌进行工程改造，以表达来自蝎或蜘蛛的杀虫肽，从而在减少孢子剂量和处理时间的情况下提高生物防治剂的功效。 第二，将测试分子策略来阻断真菌孢子的产生，以防止真菌通过昆虫宿主时转基因的潜在传播。该项目的总体目标是开展初步工作，研制一种具有基因控制功能的生物虫害防治剂。这项研究的广泛影响预计将超越M。金龟子绿僵菌在提供宿主-病原体相互作用的模型。 该项目将为开发生物害虫控制剂提供基本的见解。 项目的进展和成果可在马里兰州大学的项目网站（http：//www.example.com）上查阅，也可在开放获取期刊上发表。TEGR.umd.edu最后，该项目支持一名博士后学者，并强调将代表性不足的少数群体纳入综合遗传、分子、生理和观察方法的研究。

PI: Raymond St. Leger (University of Maryland)Co-PI: Thomas A. Miller (University of California, Riverside)Collaborator: Charles Dewhurst (Papua New Guinea Oil Palm Research Association, Papua New Guinea)Arthropod pests destroy about 25% of the world's annual crop production. Since the introduction of chemical insecticides in the 1940s, arthropod pest control has relied heavily upon chemical insecticides. However, the development of insect resistance, and the environmental and health impacts of these chemicals has stimulated the search for alternative pest control methods. More than 80% of the reports of pest problems in Papua New Guinea (PNG) each year derive from a group of long-horn grasshoppers collectively known as Sexava, which defoliate oil palms in large outbreaks. Through proof-of-concept basic research, this project will focus on understanding and testing an alternative pest control approach towards mitigation of long-horn grasshopper insect pest. The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae strain 443 is specific to long-horns and could be mass produced at low cost, but adequate crop protection requires that the fungus be more potent. First, the infectivity of M. anisopliae will be used as a delivery system for insecticidal proteins to improve virulence of the fungus. M. anisopliae will be engineered to express insecticidal peptides from scorpion or spider, to increase the efficacy of the biocontrol agent with a reduced spore dose and time of treatment. Second, molecular strategies will be tested to block production of fungal spores in order to prevent the potential spread of transgenes when the fungus passed through the insect host. The overall goal of the project is to carry out initial work towards a biological pest control agent with genetic containment. The broader impact of this research is expected to extend beyond M. anisopliae in providing a model for host-pathogen interactions. The project will provide basic insight for the development of biological pest control agents. Project progress and outcomes will be accessible on a project web site at the University of Maryland (http://TEGR.umd.edu) and through publication in open access journals. Finally, this project supports a postdoctoral scholar and emphasizes the inclusion of underrepresented minorities in research that integrates genetic, molecular, physiological and observational approaches.