Molecular basis of plant parasitism by a galling insect

葡萄是世界上最有价值的水果作物，一种叫做根瘤蚜的小昆虫是葡萄藤最大的敌人之一。在过去，它几乎摧毁了世界各地的葡萄园。根瘤蚜使植物产生特殊的结构，在其中生活和繁殖，称为虫瘿。这种攻击植物的方式很普遍，已经进化了无数次，许多重要的植物害虫都是胆制造者。 尽管如此，没有人知道昆虫是如何指导植物创造一个新的器官，使害虫受益的。该项目将试图通过检查昆虫在制造胆汁时打开或关闭的植物基因来了解这种非凡的能力。查尔斯达尔文认为，瘿类似于水果，这个项目将集中在基因的植物通常使用创造花朵和水果。该假说认为，通常与果实生产有关的植物基因被昆虫在根和叶中激活。迄今为止的初步证据支持这一观点。由于植物通常使用激素来调节花和果实的产生，第二个有待检验的假设是根瘤蚜操纵植物激素来产生虫瘿。这些想法将通过生产关键基因被阻断的转基因葡萄来证实。 这些植物上不可能长出瘿来。 该项目的发现不仅将解释长期以来的自然之谜，还将提供开发抗虫葡萄所需的遗传信息。该项目是生态学家，昆虫学家，植物生物学家和生物技术学家之间的独特合作。其结果将通过与密苏里州新闻学院的合作推广给公众和葡萄藤种植者。PI是McNair和EXPRESS计划学生的积极支持者，大量的本科生和K-12教师也将参加。

Grapes are the world's most valuable fruit crop, and a small insect called phylloxera is one of the grapevine's worst enemies. In the past it has almost wiped out vineyards worldwide. Phylloxera causes the plant to create specialized structures in which it lives and reproduces, called galls. This way of attacking plants is widespread and has evolved numerous times, and many important plant pests are gall-makers. Still, no one has any idea how the insect instructs the plant to create a new organ that benefits the pest. This project will attempt to understand this remarkable ability by examining the plant genes that are turned on or off by the insect in creating a gall. Charles Darwin suggested that galls resemble fruits and this project will focus on genes the plant normally uses to create flowers and fruits. The hypothesis is that plant genes normally involved in fruit production are activated by the insect in roots and leaves. Preliminary evidence to date supports that view. Since plants normally regulate flower and fruit production using hormones, a second hypothesis to be tested is that phylloxera manipulates plant hormones to create galls. These ideas will be confirmed by producing genetically-modified grapevines with key genes blocked. It should be impossible for galls to form on these plants. Findings from this project will not only explain a long-held mystery of nature; they will also provide the genetic information necessary for developing insect-resistance grapevines. The project is a unique collaboration among ecologists, entomologists, plant biologists and biotechnologists. Its results will be extended to the public via a collaboration with the Missouri School of Journalism and to grapevine breeders. The PIs are very active supporters of McNair and EXPRESS program students and a substantial number of undergraduates and K-12 teachers will also participate.